Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Mass Readings

• First Reading Acts 10:34a, 37-43
• Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
• Second Reading Colossians 3:1-4
• Gospel John 20:1-9

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These are the readings for Mass during the Day. The second reading may instead be 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8, the Gospel may instead be Mark 16:1-7 (the Easter Vigil Gospel), and at an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24:13-35 may be read.

Step Into the Story

Jesus was buried in a new tomb cut into the rock of a garden near Golgotha, which Matthew says belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council. Jerusalem’s wealthy carved such tombs into the limestone around the city, with a low doorway sealed by a stone, and hundreds have been found. The Sabbath was coming, so the burial was rushed. Paul, writing around 54 A.D., lists the witnesses, more than five hundred at once, most still alive, in case anyone cared to check.

1. c. 20 B.C.Herod begins the Temple
2. 14 A.D.Tiberius becomes emperor
3. 26 A.D.Pilate becomes prefect
4. c. 30 A.D.Jesus is crucified
5. This week’s scene: c. 30 A.D.The empty tomb

Go out with Mary Magdalene early on the first day of the week, likely in the spring of 30 A.D., while it is still dark. The city sleeps after the feast. Feel the chill of a spring night in the hills, and the wet of the dew on the garden path. Smell the earth and the olive trees. Ahead, the rock face is pale in the gloom, and the stone at the tomb’s mouth has been moved away.

Now run. Mary has fetched Peter and the beloved disciple, and both men sprint for the garden. The younger wins and waits at the entrance, breathing hard. Peter barges straight past him into the tomb. Come up behind them, stoop at that low doorway, and look in with the beloved disciple. Wait in the half light to see what he sees.

Encounter the Lord

Run with Peter and John through the gray morning streets of Jerusalem. Your lungs burn. The stone is rolled back. Stoop down and look in: the linen cloths are lying there, and the cloth that covered His head is rolled up by itself. The body is gone.

John says that the beloved disciple “saw and believed.” He did not yet see the risen Lord; he saw the signs and trusted. That is where most of us live. The Resurrection is not a beautiful symbol. It is a fact that changes everything: sin and death do not have the last word. Paul tells you what follows from it: set your heart on what is above. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Renew your baptismal promises with full attention today. Then do one concrete thing this week that shows you believe you will rise with Him.

Know Your Faith

A Real Event

The Resurrection of Christ is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness (CCC 639). The empty tomb was the first step toward recognizing the fact of the Resurrection (CCC 640).

The Crowning Truth

The Resurrection is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ (CCC 638). It confirms all Christ’s works and teachings, and fulfills the promises of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself (CCC 651-652).

Our Own Resurrection

By His death Christ frees us from sin; by His Resurrection He opens for us the way to a new life (CCC 654). The risen Christ is the principle and source of our own future resurrection (CCC 655, 658).

The Lord’s Day

The Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every Sunday, the Lord’s Day (CCC 1166-1167). Easter is the “Feast of feasts,” the “Solemnity of solemnities” (CCC 1169).