Matthew 28:8-15

Acts 2:14, 22-33

Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Matthew 28:8-15

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you and worship you. I truly believe in the Resurrection of your Son. I believe that you have the power to raise me up. Help me to give witness to the Resurrection through my words and deeds this day.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Different Reactions to Jesus’ Resurrection: Many different reactions to the resurrection of Jesus are on display in today’s Gospel. The soldiers, the chief priests, the women, and the disciples and apostles of Jesus all saw the same thing: the empty tomb. The soldiers accepted a bribe and hid the truth about Jesus. The chief priest and the elders were afraid of the truth about Jesus, refused to believe, and tried to cover up Jesus’ Resurrection. Mary Magdalene wept for a time before the empty tomb, but her tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy when she heard her name and encountered the Risen Christ. Mary and the women fell to the ground and worshipped Jesus as Lord. The Apostles ran to the tomb to find it empty and later also encountered the risen Christ. John saw the empty tomb and began to believe. Peter was slower to believe than John. And Thomas needed to see the wounds of the risen body of Jesus to believe. These different reactions invite us to ponder our own act of faith in Jesus’ Resurrection: Am I slow to believe? Do I hide the truth about Jesus’ Resurrection from those I encounter? How can I grow in my faith?

2. The Gospel according to Peter: Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter announces in Acts 2 the Good News of the Resurrection of Christ to those gathered in Jerusalem. He announces three things about Jesus. First, Peter recalls that Jesus worked mighty deeds, wonders, and signs and that it was God who worked these signs through Jesus. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus did these signs so that we would believe in him and in the one who sent him. The signs themselves point to something greater: physical healing points to spiritual healing, restoring physical sight points to seeing with eyes of faith, and restoring physical life points to the bestowal of eternal life. In the age of the Church, the Sacraments are the new efficacious signs of God’s grace and eternal life. Second, Peter recalls that Jesus was condemned to death. Jesus’ death on the Cross was not a failure but was in accord with the plan of God. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God promised a savior who would save us from sin and death. Isaiah reveals that this savior would take upon himself the sin of the people, destroy death, and reestablish justice in the world. Jesus, Peter says, was crucified by lawless men, and, in this way, Jesus freed us from sin and death. Third, Peter proclaims to the people that God raised Jesus and released him from death. Peter proves this by quoting King David in Psalm 16 and applying David’s words to Jesus Christ: God did not abandon Jesus’ soul to the netherworld; he did not allow the body of Jesus to see corruption. According to Peter, David died and was buried centuries ago, but was enlightened to prophesy about the day when Jesus, his royal descendant, would rise from the dead.

3. Jesus’ Heavenly Mission: Peter also preaches about Jesus’ heavenly mission. Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God and sends forth the Holy Spirit to the Church. The Holy Spirit is the Counselor who guides the Church to the fullness of truth about God and his Christ. The Spirit helps the Apostles understand all that Jesus said and did. Having ascended into heaven, Jesus now intercedes for us before God. He is our merciful and faithful high priest and is preparing a place in heaven for his bride the Church.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I believe in your Resurrection. Grant me a deeper faith in you as the Resurrection and the Life. Do not let my heart grow weary as I journey to you. Intercede for me before the Father so that I may overcome sin in my life and experience the resurrection to eternal life.

Living the Word of God: We are faced with a decision today. Will we refuse to believe in Jesus’ Resurrection like the soldiers and the chief priests or will we welcome the joy of the Resurrection in faith? The great deeds, wonders, and signs Jesus worked point us toward the truth about Jesus: He is true God and true man. He is our savior and redeemer. He is our Lord and our God. To those who welcome him in faith, he gives eternal life and a share in his victory over death. How can I grow in my faith today?