Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!

Today we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. How thrilling. Not only did Christ die for our sins, but He conquered death and is now glorified.

As I mentioned yesterday, Jesus was not given the proper burial according to Jewish law. So, since today the Sabbath would be over for the Jews, Mary the mother of James and St. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. Each account is slightly different but here is Mark’s account.

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they 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.'” (Mark 16:1-7)

How awesome! This is the reading that took place at the Vigil Masses for this year. Now, first off, we see in Mark’s version, it was St. Mary Magdalene, James’ mother and Salome who went to the tomb. In Matthew’s account it is only St. Mary Magdalene and James’ mother. Luke says St. Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Jame’s mother were there.  Finally, John only makes mention of St. Mary Magdalene. I believe I mentioned yesterday that Our Lady, was there, but I believe I was confusing her with Mary the mother of James. However, we know that Mary Magdalene was there.

Now, the first of the week would be Sunday, as the day AFTER the Sabbath is the first day. God worked on days 1-6 to create the Earth and all the creatures and everything on it, and rested on the 7th. The 7th day being Saturday as Saturday was the Sabbath. The women worried about removing the stone as well, the stone was a huge circular disc placed in front of the tomb to make sure no one could get in. What we don’t see in this reading is how when the women tell Peter and the other disciples that Jesus is no longer in the tomb, they don’t believe them. But, Peter after a few moments runs out to the tomb to see for himself and then believes. I always find this funny because there is so much emotion going on that it is such a misunderstanding and who knows what is going on in everybody’s heads at the time.

Jesus, now raised, has fulfilled what He said in Luke 9:22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Having a glorified body, Jesus is no longer bound by simple walls and the like. In the glorified state, we can walk through anything! How cool is that?

Jesus, now present on this Earth again, brings hope and joy for all of us. How blessed we are to have such a loving God. Go forth this Easter season with a renewed sense of wonder and happiness. Lent is over. This doesn’t mean you can go back to your old ways, but you must now begin life as a new creature, a new creation.

Allow the spiritual growth that you ended with at the end of Lent, be the beginning to the spiritual growth that you will endure the rest of the year. Don’t sink back into the hole that you have came from, but continue on your spiritual and faith journey walking farther and farther away from that hole.

Christ is Risen!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!