EASTER 2012

Read It:

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.



Reflect on It:
Peter and John RAN to the tomb after Mary Magdalene came to tell them about our Lord's resurrection. Today, we are called to RUN to him with great joy as He has risen from the dead!

Pray about It: Jesus, you have risen indeed. Alleulia.


Live It! Challenge: Spend some time meditating on the empty tomb today! Woot!

Blessed Pope John Paul II once said: "Do not abandon yourself to despair! We are an Easter people and Alleulia is our song!" Rejoice we always have Easter. We are people who hope in the resurrection!

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Holy Saturday!

Today is a really fascinating day liturgically! Jesus is not in any tabernacle anywhere today. We are supposed to feel empty without him. It is one of my absolutely favorite days to have a holy hour, because Jesus is gone. I like to meditate about how the apostles felt: They just watched their beloved Jesus, die so very brutally on the Cross and they are not really sure what comes next. They are alone and unsure.

After dark however, we celebrate Holy Saturday! The HOLIEST night of the year! I am including the Gospel for the night for you to read and reflect on, but one of the greatest parts of mass for the Easter Vigil is that there are seven readings and an epistle, a heap of psalms and a Gospel that take us all the way through salvation history. Sometimes you get to hear all seven, some parishes choose to just do four. I would encourage you to read all of them here: http://www.usccb.org/nab/042311.shtml
It is probably the second most epic thing of the day...all of the readings (followed in epicness only by the Resurrection itself!)

Below is the Gospel!

Read It:
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.
The guards were shaken with fear of him
and became like dead men.
Then the angel said to the women in reply,
“Do not be afraid!
I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples,
‘He has been raised from the dead,
and he is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him.’
Behold, I have told you.”
Then they went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this 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.”

Reflect on It: Christ is RISEN from the Dead! Everything that Christ promised is being fulfilled! Alleulia! There's a great part in the Gospel here that says, "they were fearful yet overjoyed". Tonight, we are overjoyed for our Savior has risen from the dead.


Pray about It: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!


Live it! Challenge: Attend the Easter Vigil!

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