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.
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040324.cfm
Many religious communities have the custom of making an Emmaus Trip during the Octave of Easter, especially today. They read the gospel story of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, then make a journey together, have a meal, and watch for strangers! It’s a wonderful reminder that we still know him in the Breaking of Bread.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “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. (Jn 20:11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040224.cfm
Today we finally hear the rest of the Easter Sunday gospel. Mary Magdalene thinks the Risen Lord is the gardener, until he calls her by name and she recognizes him. As the gospel tells us, the Good Shepherd calls his own by name and they follow him. For good reason the early church called Mary Magdalene the “Apostle to the Apostles” for she completes the apostolic mission to “go and tell.”
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.” (Mt 28:8-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040124.cfm
We are grateful to Mary Magdalene and all the faithful women who fulfilled the apostolic mission they received from the Lord to "go and tell." Because the Risen Lord goes ahead of us to all the Galilees of this world and there we see him.
For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6b-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033124.cfm
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you always! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
On entering the tomb the women saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’” Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mk 16:1-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033024.cfm
The women said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. End of gospel. That’s probably the strangest ending to a gospel ever. Of course, what the gospel writer intends is for us, the hearers of the gospel, to go and complete the mission: to go and tell the Good News! And so, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! Alleluia, alleluia!!!
