Gospel Mt 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.

Reflection

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.”

“Fearful yet overjoyed.” Rather than viewing these emotions as contradictory, they should be viewed as complimentary.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had just been told by an angel that Jesus had risen from the tomb. Their immediate response was overwhelming joy, coupled with a lingering fear that it was not true.

The authenticity of today’s Gospel is confirmed by the experience of our own lives. How often have we heard wonderful news and then experienced a knot of fear that it wasn’t true?

Can we imagine our child gone missing and our joy upon hearing they had been found? Our “knot of fear”would disappear when we held them in our embrace again.

“Do not be afraid!”
It is Easter and Jesus’ resurrection is upon us. As we embrace the love of Christ, may our fears be replaced by the joy of a renewed hope.

“Faith extinguishes fear and joy gives birth to hope.” Unknown