Cycle B

Easter Sunday, Mass During the Day

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Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37–43; Psalm 118:24; Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23; Colossians 3:1–4; 1 Corinthians 5:7b–8a; John 20:1–9

The readings for Easter Sunday teach us that the Risen Christ reveals himself to those who believe in him. In the First Reading St. Peter reminds us of this when he says that only those who believed in him were then blessed by meeting and eating and drinking with the Risen Lord. He reminds us that “everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name”: on the day of our Baptism we had an encounter with the Risen Lord that transformed us into children pleasing to Our Heavenly Father, and he continues to reveal himself to those who believe in him. An encounter with the Risen Christ in faith is always a salvific and transforming experience.

As St. Paul reminds us in the Second Reading, an outlook of faith keeps our eyes fixed on the things of above, where we know the Risen Christ stands at the right hand of His Father and intercedes for us. Like John in today’s Gospel let’s look at the signs of Jesus’ resurrection–an empty tomb, a suspiciously well-folded head wrapping–and simply believe. Our Lord will reveal himself to us and transform us in this Easter season and beyond.

Easter Vigil

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Readings: Mark 16:1–7

The disciples thought they were doing one last kindness for Our Lord, and were trying to overcome an obstacle that seemed insurmountable: the stone sealing the tomb. That didn’t stop them from moving forward. In the end the obstacle was removed without them having to lift a finger, and their life took an unexpected turn: instead of one last gesture of kindness and closure for a departed friend, they received a wonderful surprise: their friend was alive and well. They also received a new mission: they had to spread the news.

In the light of Christ’s victory over death we know that if we continue along the path he’s shown us (love for him and for others), even when there are obstacles, even when we don’t understand, those obstacles will be overcome and those mysteries will be explained, because Christ overcame the biggest obstacle and mystery of all: sin and death.

Let’s follow the angel’s advice and share with everyone during this Easter season that Christ has risen and no obstacle or mystery can withstand his light and life. Let’s continue along the path he’s shown us knowing that following Christ is a path with obstacles and unknowns, but also with wonderful surprises from here to eternity.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

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Readings: Mark 11:1–10; Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Philippians 2:6–11; Mark 14:1–15:47

Many movies today are so packed that you have to get a copy to watch them over and over again in order to understand all the details of the plot. Many traumatic moments in a life are played out in our minds over and over again because, “it all happened so fast…”

Today on Palm Sunday we experience that first look, that first experience of the Lord’s Passion and death so that during Holy Week we can go back over it moment by moment in order to understand more deeply the conversation of love that takes place between God and us: in a language of words, but especially in a language of actions. Let’s take it moment by moment this week because it’s a moment of our history: the trauma of our sin (for God and for us) and the triumph of God’s love for us.