Reading 1
Acts 2:36-41
On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people,
“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain
that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,
and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,
“What are we to do, my brothers?”
Peter said to them,
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call.”
He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22
Responsorial PsalmR. (5b)
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Jn 20:11-18
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her.
Meditation: John 20:11-18
“Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.” (John 20:11)
Mary Magdalene had dared to hope, and look where it got her. Jesus was dead. And not only dead but missing! Out of great devotion, she hastened to the tomb early. She wanted to get there before everyone else so that she could prepare Jesus’ body for a proper burial. But he was gone! Crushed with sadness, she wept bitterly. She presumed that it was all over.
Apparently, Mary forgot Jesus’ promise to rise after three days. Perhaps the gardener, who presented himself, knew where his body was. “They have taken my Lord,” she said (John 20:13). It was all up to her. Peter and John had come and gone, leaving her quite alone. In her grief, she resolved that she would return him to the tomb herself if necessary.
Was it compassion for Mary that moved Jesus to call her by name? After all, he had not engaged Peter and John. Yet once he did call her, all her sadness and despair vanished. She recognized his voice! He was alive! She was no longer a mourner; she was no longer alone!
As the Easter season begins, it is a good idea to consider how often we go around acting as if Jesus were still dead. It’s a good idea to ask whether the decisions we make in a typical day reflect the creed we profess every Sunday at Mass. Do we really think Jesus can help us in our day? Or like Mary Magdalene, do we assume that he has left us to our own limited devices?
Yesterday, we suggested that you develop a plan to help you deepen your sense of Jesus’ presence during this Easter season, and today we want to encourage you again. Don’t be hesitant like Mary Magdalene and Peter and John! Jesus is at your side right now, ready to act in your life. Every day, affirm your belief in the risen Lord and his power to work in your life. Take him at his word, and ask him for one specific thing each day. Ask him, in the power of his resurrection, to pour out his grace in a difficult situation—and then listen for his voice. He wants to call you by name today!
“Jesus, I believe that you are the risen Lord! I place my faith in you and trust in your power to work in my life today.”
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