A reading of the holy Gospel according to Matthew 28:8-15
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
REFLECTION: “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Even the apostles doubted --yet, with the Resurrection of Our Lord and the different people who saw Him, their eyes were opened. Truly, Jesus was the Son of God but it was fear that held them back. The scribes and Pharisees still would not admit their mistake of whom Jesus was. Their hardened hearts justified their paying off the soldiers to spread lies.
They would be very surprised --Jesus had conquered sin and opened the gates of Heaven in His Resurrection. Soon the whole world would know. Let's spread the good news to all --Jesus is the Son of God, He is the conqueror of evil and sin and He awaits us, who choose to follow Him, in heaven.
May our priests never tire of spreading the Good News of our risen Lord. On Easter and solemn Days, may the priests give glory and praise to His Name in humble and devout actions. ( St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church: The Dialogue, 130)
God Bless
