Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
The joy of Resurrection
1. Fearful. We often feel afraid when we need to make decisions. Of course, fear can paralyze you or simply leave you standing still while life passes you by. Easter is about moving from death to life, so try to face what scares you so you can overcome it. Fear can be defeated, but first, it must be faced. You can’t conquer what you won’t confront, and you can’t confront what you won’t acknowledge. Own what you’re afraid of so you can face it head-on; I promise that with faith and determination, you can get past your fears.
2. Joy. Joy is a wonderful gift. It’s shown by people who stay positive and look for good things in life. Joy means finding something good even in tough times. Don’t let your blessings slip away and definitely keep close those who bring you happiness. Today, face your fears so that joy can bring peace to your life. With joy and peace, you’ll discover real happiness each day.
3. “You are to say”. There will always be people who criticize or speak badly about you. Don’t let their words take away your joy or peace. Instead, live true to yourself, even when others doubt you. May you have joy and peace during this Octave of Easter.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
May God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
