The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Monday in the Octave of Easter, initiates the Fifty Days of Easter with the Good News of hope in Life first revealed to the women returning to the Tomb.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents Peter’s Speech at Pentecost.
* [2:14–36] The first of six discourses in Acts (along with Acts 3:12–26; 4:8–12; 5:29–32; 10:34–43; 13:16–41) dealing with the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic import. Five of these are attributed to Peter, the final one to Paul. Modern scholars term these discourses in Acts the “kerygma,” the Greek word for proclamation (cf. 1 Cor 15:11).
* [2:33] At the right hand of God: or “by the right hand of God.” (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 16 reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God.
* [Psalm 16] In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).
* [16:1] Miktam: a term occurring six times in Psalm superscriptions, always with “David.” Its meaning is unknown.
* [16:10] Nor let your devout one see the pit: Hebrew shahath means here the pit, a synonym for Sheol, the underworld. The Greek translation derives the word here and elsewhere from the verb shahath, “to be corrupt.” On the basis of the Greek, Acts 2:25–32; 13:35–37 apply the verse to Christ’s resurrection, “Nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.” (Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Resurrection of Jesus is revealed to the women and denied in the Report of the Guard.
* [28:8] Contrast Mk 16:8 where the women in their fear “said nothing to anyone.”
* [28:9–10] Although these verses are peculiar to Matthew, there are similarities between them and John’s account of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:17). In both there is a touching of Jesus’ body, and a command of Jesus to bear a message to his disciples, designated as his brothers. Matthew may have drawn upon a tradition that appears in a different form in John. Jesus’ words to the women are mainly a repetition of those of the angel (Mt 28:5a, 7b).
* [28:11–15] This account indicates that the dispute between Christians and Jews about the empty tomb was not whether the tomb was empty but why. (Matthew, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB, n.d.)
Margo Minnich comments that the resurrection invites us to see the world differently. Our true experience of joy does not come from the things the world expects. It is not rooted in power, status, or earthly things. Rather, we find true joy in simplicity, humility, compassion for others, and most importantly, trust in God. Saint Ignatius would invite us to notice where God is inviting us toward deeper joy.
The Easter season reminds us that resurrection is not only something that happened long ago; it is a way of living today. When we shift our perspective from earthly anxieties to the path of life revealed in Christ, we begin to see signs of resurrection all around us, acts of kindness, forgiveness offered, and hope renewed. Like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, we are sent from the empty tomb into our world. Our hearts may carry both fear and joy, but Easter assures us that joy has the final word. God has shown us the path of life, and in God’s presence, we find nothing, not even death, can overcome joy. (Minnich, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Our thoughts in this present life should turn on the praise of God, because it is in praising God that we shall rejoice for ever in the life to come; and no one can be ready for the next life unless he trains himself for it now. So we praise God during our earthly life, and at the same time we make our petitions to him. Our praise is expressed with joy, our petitions with yearning. We have been promised something we do not yet possess, and because the promise was made by one who keeps his word, we trust him and are glad; but insofar as possession is delayed, we can only long and yearn for it. It is good for us to persevere in longing until we receive what was promised, and yearning is over; then praise alone will remain." (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148, 1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15 declares that we can become a witness to this Easter joy. The world is filled with people who are hurting or fearful or wrapped up in their problems, and we have the good news that can set them free! We can be a beacon of hope in a world darkened by sin.
So don’t hide your happiness. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord of life, has conquered the grave. He has given you a share in his eternal life, and he wants you to tell others that they can experience his life as well. Let this good news be evident on your face, in your voice, and in every interaction you have. Like Mary Magdalene, go! Run and announce this good news!
“Jesus, help me to become a living witness to the joy of your resurrection!” (Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts, the kerygma, first preaching of Peter is very Jewish to pilgrims who had come to celebrate the Jewish feast of Pentecost. David had talked that the Holy One would not suffer corruption and it is confirmed as Jesus lives forever. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encounter Jesus after Resurrection and are invited to meet Him in Galilee. In this Gospel, the Guards who see the resurrection are being paid off to lie. Friar Jude comments that Matthew goes out of his way to refute the lies including disinformation concerning Jesus' birth as the result of an affair with a Roman soldier.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces CAC staff member Mark Longhurst who recounts the Easter story which revealed the good news of Jesus’s resurrection—and our own.
Jesus rising, however, is only the beginning or “first fruits” of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). In Jesus Christ, God’s resurrecting movement has begun, and it sweeps everyone and everything up within it. Dying and rising are a central pattern and truth of reality—and so to talk about Jesus’s rising is somehow to approach the weighty paradox of death and life evolving together at the center of the universe. Mary, Joanna, and the other women are rising, Peter is rising, I’m rising, you’re rising, and the universe itself is rising. (Rohr, n.d.)
We begin the Easter Season and invoke the Spirit to assist us in presenting hope as followers of Christ in the power of love, service, faith, and truth to bring joy to our environment.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?14
Matthew, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28?8
Meditation on Matthew 28:8-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/06/1538451/
Minnich, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-6-2026
Psalms, PSALM 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/16?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). We Are All Rising. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/we-are-all-rising/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). News of the Resurrection. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 6, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
No comments:
Post a Comment