Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 20, 2025
On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
My confirmation saint, Mary of Magdala, is often overshadowed. Jesus purposefully entered her life because she was on the periphery of society. After he cast seven demons out of her, she committed to following Jesus. Despite her former life of sin and her relatively minor role in the story of Jesus’s ministry, she is the first to discover the empty tomb in today’s gospel.
I love the image of her running to tell John and Simon Peter what she had seen, who in turn ran to see for themselves what she had witnessed. I can only imagine their fear, wonder, and anticipation as they ran to see what happened to the body of their Savior and friend. Despite not knowing what would come next, they ran to Jesus without hesitation. They ran with faith.
This faith was nurtured during the time they physically spent with Jesus. They heard his ministry, witnessed miracles, and saw him die on the cross just to rise again from the grave. Today, we are not able to experience this tangible confirmation of our faith in God. How can we better run with faith to the resurrection?
I know that our redeemer lives because I see him everywhere. Let’s run and greet our risen Lord in hope and faith. Run and help the poor, run and greet the stranger, run and show the world that our God is risen through our lives. Jesus revealed his resurrection glory to Mary of Magdala, someone on the periphery of society first. This Easter Sunday, run to those on the periphery. Look out at the people around you. See Christ acting in your life today through your family, your friends, and your community. Look out and see God present everywhere.
Allelujah! He is risen!
Prayer
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
After Saturday evening, when the Easter vigil is celebrated in anticipation of the Lord’s resurrection, the Church rejoices in the gift of new life with this feast, the high point of the Church year.
Saturday night and Sunday, the Church marks the central moment of our salvation from death—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who have been preparing to enter the Church are baptized at the Easter Vigil because the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the very mystery that they are entering—it is the mystery that marks the life of anyone who has been baptized.
Sunday begins the Easter octave—a period of eight days, Sunday to Sunday—during which we celebrate the saving event of Jesus’ resurrection. According to the Church year, this whole week collapses into one single day, and the liturgy on each day of this week is a full-hearted, joyful celebration of Easter all over again. After the Easter octave, we will begin the Easter season, which lasts 50 days and culminates in Pentecost.
For the first time since Lent began, the Church proclaims “Alleluia!” The Easter proclamation begins in this way:
Rejoice heavenly powers!
Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
The reliquary chapel in the Basilica holds relics from the burial shroud that was left behind when the women and Jesus’ disciples found the empty tomb and first learned of his resurrection. The Siegfried Hall chapel contains a final station of the cross that depicts the resurrection (shown to the side), and the image of Jesus emerging from the tomb above comes from the tabernacle upon the altar in the Lady Chapel of the Basilica.
On this joyous feast of Easter, let us proclaim that Jesus is risen! He is truly risen! Alleluia!