4/10/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 28:8-15

8 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened.
12 The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
14 And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
15 The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

4/10/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 28:8-15

The resurrection of Jesus is not an ordinary story to be told and retold just like a legend or classical novel. It is a fact that became the nucleus of history. Believe it or not, it has changed the world and will keep changing it until everything is renewed and God is all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).

The resurrection of Jesus means, first of all, that God is in control and that everything is falling into place according to His plan. He has fulfilled His promise that He will send His Son to be the Messiah, the savior. Secondly, it means that suffering and death is not the end but a way through. Third, it means there is hope for humankind. Individually, the resurrection gives us joy and peace in place of our fears and doubts. For the world, the resurrection gives us that flicker of hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, that the problems facing all of us such as injustice, division, moral decay, etc. are not really insurmountable. Our belief in the risen Christ makes us hopeful that one day, the whole universe will be fully restored and renewed. That day will soon come when the justice of God prevails and evil is totally annihilated.

May the power of the resurrection makes us like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary feel overjoyed though fearful. More importantly, may the resurrection gives us the courage to tell the truth though others try to suppress it.

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