Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 21, 2025
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 guard 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.
Today’s gospel offers us two strikingly different responses to the reality of the resurrection. On one hand, we see Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, filled with both fear and joy, rushing to share the good news. On the other, we witness the guards and religious leaders gripped by fear and deceit, choosing to conceal the truth.
The women at the tomb experience a mixture of awe and joy—a recognition that something incredible has taken place. When Jesus meets them, their response is immediate and profound. They fall at his feet in worship, overwhelmed by the reality of his resurrection. In their vulnerability, Jesus reassures them with the simple yet powerful words, “Do not be afraid.”
These words are not just for the women. They are for us. How often do we find ourselves paralyzed by fear—the fear of uncertainty, the fear of failure, the fear of proclaiming our faith? The risen Christ invites us to move beyond fear, embrace the joy of victory over death, and proclaim it to the world.
In stark contrast, the guards and religious leaders show us what happens when fear takes hold without faith. Despite witnessing the power of God, they choose self-preservation over truth. They cling to lies and manipulation, hoping to maintain control. How often are we tempted to do the same? When faced with challenging truths or moments of decision, do we act with courage and honesty, or do we retreat into denial and avoidance?
The resurrection cannot be silenced. Even as the leaders attempt to spread falsehoods, the truth of Christ’s victory continues to transform hearts and lives. Today, that same truth calls us to live as witnesses. We are invited to carry the joy of Easter into our families, our communities, and our world. How have we encountered the risen Christ in our own lives?
Prayer
Father, thank you for the Easter joy with which you have blessed us. Drive this joy ever-deeper in our hearts, that our fears may dissolve and that we may find strength to give witness to our encounters with the risen Christ. Amen.
Saint of the Day
In the line of thinkers in the medieval Church, St. Anselm stands as a giant, but he is a saint because his love for others was even greater than his intellect.
He was born in 1033 in what is now northern Italy. As an adolescent, he wanted to enter the monastery, but was too young, so he wandered in his faith for a time. Later, as a well-educated young man, he heard about a famous abbot who was teaching at a monastery in Normandy, and he joined the community there at the age of 27.
Anselm quickly rose into leadership positions in the community at the monastery, and his brother monks grumbled about his promotions because of his youth. But Anselm was patient and gentle, which won over all of them—even an obstinate young monk who was set on living outside of the monastic discipline. Anselm shepherded the young monk with tenderness, and brought him around to greater faithfulness, even nursing him when he fell ill and died.
Anselm was a monumental thinker—he was known as the greatest theologian of his age. Not since Augustine had the Church such a mind at her disposal. He is known as the father of Scholasticism, a critical mode of thought from the medieval age that gave rise to the university system. Anselm wrote about the existence and nature of God, truth, free will, the origins of evil, reason, and Jesus’ Incarnation.
In 1078, Anselm was elected abbot of the monastery, and soon after was named archbishop of Canterbury. In that position he ran into continuous conflicts with several successive kings of England over rights and revenues. They wanted to claim the stream of resources that came from monasteries, and Anselm took his opposition to the pope on several occasions. Anselm unflinchingly fought to better the clergy and hold to Church disciplines.
Anselm was known for his charity towards all, and especially towards the poor. People who met him remarked on his sincerity and compassion. He was the first to take a stand against the slave trade, passing a resolution against the selling of people like cattle.
Anslem died of old age in 1109, and was declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel on campus.
St. Anselm, you who deepened our understanding of God and enacted that knowledge in love, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anselm is in the public domain. Last accessed February 21, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
