Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.  In him, all will get to rise from the dead.

Scripture says that Christ has to rise from the dead.  But the disciples have not understood this saying.  That is why they, along with Mary, do not expect the resurrection of their Teacher.

Hence, as she goes to the tomb, Mary wants to see Jesus’ corpse.  On seeing, then, the open tomb, she cannot help but think that folks have taken the corpse.  The darkness of death has yet to lift up for her.  No, it does not cross her mind that Jesus has the power to rise from the dead.

For our part, we readily accept the Scripture that Christ has to rise from the dead.  In fact, we proclaim that our Lord Jesus Christ “rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Yes, we take to be true the prophecies that the Messiah must suffer and so enter into his glory.  True, too, is all that is said about him in all the Scriptures.  And, of course, our faith in the Risen One has for its foundation what the New Testament teaches us.

We believe all these testimonies.  After all, they come from witnesses who suffered much and even died for them; they are martyrs.  The grace of God surely makes use of them so that we may meet and know the Risen Christ.

We, in turn, will be true witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection to the extent that we live the new life.  That is, if we go about doing good like him.  If we think of what is above in place of agreeing with the world of selfishness, greed and consumerism.  If we are “missionaries, witnesses of hope and Easter joy”

Lord Jesus, grant us who still live on earth to rise from the dead.  Give us, then, the grace to live by your death, to die by your life, to live hidden in yourself and full of yourself, and to live like you so that we may die like you (SV.EN I:276).  At your table, you nourish us with your word, and you give us your body to eat and your blood to drink.  Help us to set before others the same kind of meal (St. Augustine).

5 April 2026
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Acts 10, 34a. 37-43; Col 3, 1-4/1 Cor 5, 6b-8; Jn 20, 1-9