During this season of Lent, I will be working through Bishop Robert Barron’s Lenten Gospel Reflections (available through Word on Fire). Each day, I will share the readings and the reflection question, followed by my own thoughts.
April 16, 2022
24 On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Jo-anna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Lk 24:1–12). (2006). Ignatius Press.
How do you honestly feel about your own death? Do you succumb to the culture’s way of ignoring death? Do you fear death?
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” How powerful these words are! By Christ’s resurrection, He overcame the power of death once and for all. By His resurrection He proved that He was Who He claimed to be. To put it another way, if it weren’t for Easter, Christmas wouldn’t matter! As Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:17,20)! Thus Christ is not the only one resurrected; rather, He is the first one resurrected! Therefore we can with Paul proclaim that for those who believe, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In this life, we have the privilege of serving our Lord and becoming more like Him; in death, we anticipate the Beatific Vision and the resurrection of the body.
Lord Jesus, by Your Resurrection, You were vindicated as I AM. Grant me the grace of perseverance that I may be resurrected to eternal life with You. Open the hearts of those I am praying for that they will come to You in Your fullness.
Steven Mills 