A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[261] Acts 2:14, 22-32 Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 Matt 28:8-15.

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

It is Easter and Jesus has risen from the dead, hallelujah!  The first half of the gospel is a beautiful summary of how we should act as messengers of the Good News that we have been given this Easter season.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are the first people to see the risen Lord and to proclaim this news to the disciples.  Let us look to their humble example and translate that in our own lives.

First, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meet Jesus with fear and joy in their hearts.  These emotions may seem contrasting, but they are extremely appropriate when approaching our God.  A fearful reverence and respect, met with a joyful love and hope.  How do you approach God, especially when you are receiving Him most intimately in the Eucharist?   How do you approach others, particularly those that may have different opinions than you? 

Notice when Jesus asks the women to tell the disciples to meet Him in Galilee, Jesus doesn’t tell them to explain the situation.  He doesn’t give them any proof that it was actually Jesus in the flesh.  He just has the women tell the disciples that they saw the risen Lord.  That’s it. There are a lot of people in our own lives who do not share the same beliefs that we do.  It is not our job to convince them, show them proof, or pull up every passage in the Bible we can possibly think of.  All we need to do is tell them that Jesus is here, Jesus is loving, and Jesus is merciful.  Jesus will do the rest.  Jesus is the only one that can truly convict the hearts of the lost.

In this octave of Easter let us embrace the feet of Jesus, just as these women did, and approach Christ with fear and joy in our hearts as we spread the Good News.