Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 10, 2023
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.”
While they were going, some of the guards went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
Reflection
Today’s gospel reminds us of the importance of trusting God. As Mary Magdalene and the other Mary depart from the tomb, they are joyful but also understandably fearful, so much so that Jesus has to remind them, “Do not be afraid.” Even though both women encountered the risen Jesus, they must have wondered if it were too good to be true at first. We all have this feeling sometimes.
I remember an occasion in my own life when a friend of mine shared that a young woman was going through a high-risk pregnancy. The health of her twins was in jeopardy, and, immediately, many prayers were lifted up on her behalf. Shortly before the birth, the health reports became more positive. This was fantastic news to hear. However, I continued to wonder, “Are they sure? It sounds too good to be true.” Only once the babies were born did I truly believe.
The soldiers in today’s reading also had to grapple with their own reaction to the empty tomb. Instead of courage, they responded with an all too familiar urge to control the uncontrollable, which led them to accept the chief priest’s bribe and instructions of deceit. Again, the same sort of thing still happens today.
In the news, we regularly hear of deceit, bribery, cover-ups, and multi-generational power schemes all trying to do one thing: control the uncontrollable—control the storyline so that it aligns with what we want to see or hear. The chief priests were so obsessed with maintaining control, it seems it did not even occur to them to wonder about what really happened to Jesus.
As we begin our journey in this Easter season, let us let go of our fears, trust God’s truth, increase our faith, and be joyful witnesses to the miracles that God generously gives us however that story unfolds.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the Easter joy with which you have blessed us. Drive this joy ever deeper in our hearts so that our fears may dissolve and that we may find the strength to give witness to our encounters with the risen Christ. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Magdalene of Canossa was born in 1774 to a very wealthy family in Verona, Italy. When Magdalene was only five years old, her father died in an accident, and she and her siblings were placed under the guardianship of their uncle Girolamo. Their family was an influential group of Italian nobles, and from a young age, Magdalene was brought up immersed in the Italian church. In 1791, Magdalene joined the Carmelites, trying to discern her religious vocation, but soon she left the convent, feeling dissatisfied with the Carmelite way of life.
Magdalene returned home to run the family estate, where her family entertained Napoleon several times. Napoleon and his army upset the social equilibrium of Europe, and many of the vulnerable and poor were left in even more dire situations. Magdalene saw the suffering and cultural upheaval all around her and felt that it was her call to serve the needs of those around her. She continued to study under the Carmelites as she made plans to found a new society.
Using her large inheritance, Magdalene founded the Canossian Daughters of Charity, who ministered to the people living in the slums of Verona. Someone donated an old convent to Magdalene, and then they added convents in Venice and Milan. Pope Leo XII gave his blessing to the new congregation in 1823. A zealous Italian priest, Francesco Luzzi, worked with Magdalene to found the Canossian Brothers of Charity, for men who wished to join in Magdalene's mission of care for the poor.
Magdalene died on April 10, 1835. But her order has thrived, spreading throughout the world, from Italy to India, and has added saints like Josephine Bakhita to its ranks.
Magdalene was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1941 and canonized over forty years later by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
St. Magdalene of Canossa, who used your great wealth to care for the poor—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Magdalene of Canossa is in the public domain. Last accessed February 17, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
