These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” (Jn 20:1-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040526.cfm
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Alleluia, Alleluia!!! ¡FELICES PASCUAS! https://youtu.be/rMwPEmUMP7U?si=JSRv81qlRNFesC10
Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this 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.” (Mt 28:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040426.cfm
O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!—Exultet (The Easter Proclamation) https://youtu.be/wNIJcbywGyA?si=ObhSFQZAhFxgjN9U
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (Jn 18:1-19:42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040326.cfm
The Twelve have fled. Peter denied him. Judas betrayed. Only his Mother, the Faithful Women, and the Beloved Disciple are with Him. Dying on the Cross, the new family of grace is born.
So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn 13:1-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040226-Supper.cfm
As I have done for you, you should also do. We don’t get to pick and choose when it comes to Jesus. Trying to turn Jesus into a justification for violence and war has been condemned by Pope Leo. We are called to follow Jesus. We are called to wash each other’s feet, to get low and serve one another and not exalt ourselves and lord it over others. https://youtu.be/mgdIspwSjgY?si=mzgELPA6rMHYsWC1
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mt 26:14-25)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040126.cfm
In a transactional world, everything and everybody has a price. Most of us can be bought for far less than thirty pieces of silver. It is easy to dismiss the betrayal by Judas as long ago history, until we recognize that in mentioning that Judas is one of the Twelve the gospel writers are making a comment on church leadership in every age and by extension on all of us. https://youtu.be/XRGiSp6fADI?si=0U2mdDdQY1G-AanG
