4/1/2024 (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 this 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 They 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.

4/1/2024 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 28:8-15

In the gospel passage above, we read a profound moment of revelation and transformation that speaks to the very heart of faith and purpose. After the resurrection, the women who visited the tomb were met with an awe-inspiring truth: Jesus was no longer there; He had risen, just as He said. Filled with fear and great joy, they ran to share this miraculous news with His disciples. This moment encapsulates the essence of our journey with faith – moving from fear to joy, from uncertainty to clarity, and from solitude to community.

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a testament to His divine power but also a beacon of hope for all of us. It reminds us that no situation is too dire, no night too dark, and no despair too deep that it cannot be transformed by hope. The message the women carried that day wasn’t just that Jesus had risen, but that life, in all its forms, triumphs over death. We are called, like those faithful women, to be messengers of hope in a world that often seems filled with the opposite.

Furthermore, the differing reactions to the resurrection, from the disciples’ belief to the guards’ deceit, underscore a critical choice we all face: to embrace the truth and its transformative power or to turn away from it. The guards accepted bribes to spread falsehoods about Jesus’ resurrection, illustrating how fear and misunderstanding can lead to actions that deny the truth. This juxtaposition challenges us to reflect on the integrity of our own beliefs and the actions they inspire.

Let us then be inspired by the courage and joy of those who first witnessed the empty tomb. May we carry forward the message of hope, love, and resurrection, not just in words but through our actions and lives. Just as dawn breaks after the darkest night, so too does hope rise, bringing light and renewal to all willing to believe and share in its glory.

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You may also watch the video below for further reflection.