Servant of the Word: Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord

Catechism Links[1]

CCC 638-655, 989, 1001-1002: The Resurrection of Christ and our resurrection

CCC 647, 1167-1170, 1243, 1287: Easter, the Lord’s Day

CCC 1212: The Sacraments of Initiation

CCC 1214-1222, 1226-1228, 1234-1245, 1254: Baptism

CCC 1286-1289: Confirmation

CCC 1322-1323: Eucharist

“Resurrection” by Luca Giordano, after 1665

Readings for the Mass of Easter Day[2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible[3]

Commentary:

Reading 1: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Commentary on Acts 10:34a, 37-43

This is part of Peter’s speech to Cornelius and his family (Gentiles). Peter (according to St. Luke) assumes the people know what has happened – namely that Jesus who was thought to be the Messiah, had proven that fact in the resurrection. Now he reminds them, before the creed was written, that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead.

He goes further, explaining that his Apostles are also called to spread that word through preaching: to take what they have been given, the Good News of Christ and him crucified, into the world. This call, St. Peter explains, is so all peoples might come to know and understand that God has fulfilled the promise he made through the prophets by providing a sacrifice of atonement, his Only Begotten Son Jesus, and that belief in him will lead to reconciliation to the Father through the forgiveness of sins.

CCC: Acts 10:38 438, 453, 486, 1289; Acts 10:39 597; Acts 10:41 659, 995; Acts 10:42 679

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R. (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

Alleluia.

Commentary on Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Psalm 118 is in regular use during the Easter season. It is a liturgical song of praise and victory. The messianic imagery is so strong that it has been used for the past three days, reflecting the joy of the Church in the Eastertide. This litany of thanksgiving features the cornerstone image that, in addition to Acts 10:34a, 37-43 (Easter Sunday), was also used in the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 12:10) and the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:7) (there are 9 other scripture references not listed here).

CCC: Ps 118:22 587, 756

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Reading II: Colossians 3:1-4

Commentary on Col 3:1-4

Paul gives assurance to the Colossians that they too have a home with Christ, who now is seated at the right hand of the Father. In saying this, he points their aspirations to the things of heaven, telling them that if eternal life with Christ is what they desire, they should focus their thoughts on the Lord not on things of the earth.

CCC: Col 3-4 1971; Col 3:1-3 655; Col 3:1 1002; Col 3:3 665, 1003, 1420, 2796; Col 3:4 1003, 2772

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Or: 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Commentary on 1 Cor 5:6b-8

Paul calls the Corinthians to conversion with a metaphor. He uses the dual meaning or implication of leaven in bread and the feast of the Passover to symbolize the new covenant. The traditional Passover meal or Seder is lamb and unleavened bread. Christ, the Lamb of God and the unleavened bread of the Eucharist, is their meal.

CCC: 1 Cor 5:6-8 129; 1 Cor 5:7 608, 610, 613

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Gospel: John 20:1-9

Commentary on John 20:1-9

In St. John’s account of the discovery of the “Empty Tomb,” we hear how the disciple whom Jesus loved understood what had come to pass before Peter did. Found also in Luke (Luke 24:1-12), this story furnishes the testimony that confirms Christ’s resurrection. The story of the discovery of the empty tomb describes St. John (the disciple whom Jesus loved). “From these details concerning the empty tomb one deduces that Jesus' body must have risen in a heavenly manner, that is, in a way which transcended the laws of nature. It was not only a matter of the body being reanimated as happened, for example, in the case of Lazarus, who had to be unbound before he could walk (cf. John 11:44)”[5] It is interesting that St. John arrives first but recognizes St. Peter’s primacy, waiting for him to enter the tomb first. Note also that when St. John entered the tomb, he immediately understood what happened and “believed.”

CCC: Jn 20:1 2174; Jn 20:2 640; Jn 20:5-7 640; Jn 20:6 640; Jn 20:7 515; Jn 20:8 640

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Or:

From the Vigil Mass Mark 16:1-7

Commentary on Mk 16:1-7

This reading from St. Mark’s Gospel is called the shorter ending. “The purpose of this narrative is to show that the tomb is empty and that Jesus has been raised and is going before you to Galilee in fulfillment of Mark 14:28. The women find the tomb empty, and an angel stationed there announces to them what has happened. They are told to proclaim the news to Peter and the disciples in order to prepare them for a reunion with him.” [6]

"'He has risen': the glorious resurrection of Jesus is the central mystery of our faith. 'If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain' (1 Corinthians 15:14). It is also the basis of our hope: 'if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. . . . If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied' (1 Corinthians 15:17; 19). The Resurrection means that Jesus has overcome death, sin, pain and the power of the devil. The Redemption which our Lord carried out through his death and resurrection is applied to the believer by means of the sacraments, especially by Baptism and the Eucharist: 'We were buried with him by baptism and death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we might walk in newness of life' (Romans 6:4). 'He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day' (John 6:54). The resurrection of Christ is also the role of our new life: 'If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth' Colossians 3:1-2). Rising with Christ through grace means that 'just as Jesus Christ through his resurrection began a new immortal and heavenly life, so we must begin a new life according to the Spirit, once and for all renouncing sin and everything that leads us to sin, loving only God and everything that leads to God (St Pius X, "Catechism", 77).'"[7]

CCC: Mk 16:1 641, 2174; Mk 16:2 2174; Mk 16:5-7 333; Mk 16:7 652

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Or:

At an afternoon or evening Mass: Luke 24:13-35

Commentary on Lk 24:13-35

This story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus is only found in Luke’s Gospel. There is a mention in Mark (Mark 16;12) that is vague but probably refers to this event. The actual location of Emmaus is not known, but it is estimated that it was between 7 and 18 miles from Jerusalem. The focus of the story is the unrecognized Jesus (similar: in John 20:11-18, Mary Magdalene thought he was a gardener). Jesus interprets scripture and then he is recognized in the breaking of the bread (the Eucharistic reference).

"In the course of their conversation with Jesus, the disciples' mood changes from sadness to joy; they begin to hope again, and feel the need to share their joy with others, thus becoming heralds and witnesses of the risen Christ." [8]

CCC: Lk 24:13-49 1094; Lk 24:13-35 1329, 1347; Lk 24:15 645, 659; Lk 24:17 643; Lk 24:21 439; Lk 24:22-23 640; Lk 24:25-27 112, 601; Lk 24:26-27 572, 652; Lk 24:26 555, 710; Lk 24:27 555, 2625; Lk 24:30 645, 1166; Lk 24:31 659; Lk 24:34 552, 641

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Reflection:

What if Jesus had not risen from the dead? What would have happened if, as the Sanhedrin intended, the disciples were scattered and the Son of God was forgotten as yet one more messiah myth? Think of what the world would have been had the New Fire never been lit and had darkness remained.

There would never have been a St. Paul to spread the word of Christ’s death and resurrection throughout the Roman Empire. There would never have been a St. Peter to establish the Church of Rome as the Holy See. There would never have been a Charlemagne to establish the Christian faith and give it sanction, allowing it to spread.

When Rome collapsed, there would have been no Church to keep the vestiges of culture, education, and literacy alive through the monastic orders she established and maintained. The middle ages would have seen a darkness that would never have lifted and pagan cultures that grew up in various places would never have been challenged; their often brutal and degrading practices would never have been abolished. In short, the world would have been a darker place under the sway of the Evil One had the Christ not brought his light to our world.

Today we recall this miraculous gift. Christ was raised from the dead, the firstborn of all the dead. He brought with him all those who had died before him without hope. He comes to us now in his glorified body, he reassures us of the promise he made – He is going before us to prepare a place in his Heavenly Kingdom and he has left us the Holy Spirit, his divine presence, in-dwelling, to guide and sustain us until we return to him.

For today, we remember with great joy the peace he left us in this life and the promise of life in the next. We remember the joy of the first disciples at learning this wondrous news and share in their rejoicing as we recall all that Jesus Christ has done for us.

He is Risen!

[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014

[2] The picture used today is “Resurrection” by Luca Giordano, after 1665

[3] S.S. Commemoratio