Gospel: March 31, 2024
(Sunday)
Holy Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
1st Reading: Acts 10: 34a, 37-43
2nd Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4 (or 1 Corinthians 5: 6b-8
Gospel: John 20: 1-9 (or Matthew 28: 1-10) (or Luke 24: 13-35)
Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.”
Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that Jesus must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.
Reflection
Read: Mary Magdalene went early in the tomb on the first day after the Sabbath. She saw that the stone covering the tomb had already been moved away. She ran to Peter and to the Beloved Disciple, telling them of what she saw. Peter and the Beloved Disciple ran to the tomb. The latter outran the former. The Beloved Disciple did not enter the tomb but bending down he saw the linen cloths lying flat. Peter entered the tomb and saw that the napkin that had been around the head was not lying flat unlike the other linen cloths. The Beloved Disciple also entered, saw and believed. The Scripture stated with clarity that Jesus must rise from the dead. However, they still did not understand it yet.
Reflect: Today, we celebrate Easter. We are Easter people. We may reflect that the first Easter happened on the first day after the Sabbath, implying a beginning of a great new day. Jesus’ resurrection conveys that there is always a possibility to begin again. Whatever happened to us in the past, if we open ourselves to the power of Christ’s resurrection, we become new creatures. This day reminds us of that amazing grace won for us by Christ when he rose from the dead. We can begin again with a life renewed.
Pray: Let us pray for Easter inspiration to truly start our life anew.
Act: Let us take a more positive disposition in life from this day onward.
