Monday April 1, 2024
Theme: “Meeting the Risen One”
Text: John 20:11-18
11. Meanwhile Mary stood outside by the tomb, and wept. As she wept, she stooped down to look into the tomb; 12. and she saw two angels clothed in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head, the other at the feet. 13. They said to her: Woman, why are you weeping? She answered them: Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him. 14. So saying, she turned around, and saw Jesus standing; but she didn't know it was Jesus. 15. Jesus said to her: Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? She, thinking that it was the gardener, said to him: Lord, if it is you who have taken it, tell me where you have put it, and I will take it. 16. Jesus said to her: Mary! She turned around and said to him in Hebrew: Rabbouni! that is to say, Master! 17. Jesus said to him: Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. 18. Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
Let's remember:
Our encounter with the Risen One is the great turning point in our life. It is the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. This is the start of a new cycle. Our faith has triumphed and our future is now certain and secure. This is where unbelievers begin to understand that this matter of Jesus was serious and true. In mourning for our illnesses, our famine, unemployment, in our persecutions in short as we cry over our fate; let's look next to us, there is an angel of God who announces to us that Jesus is already resurrected. It's time to dry our tears and shout for joy. Our pain, our mourning must give way to joy because Jesus is resurrected with our salvation, our healing, our happiness, our work. In reality, the Christian cries over his difficult condition instead of being vigilant to notice that Jesus Christ is standing next to him. Let us meet him to resurrect with him. If we are attentive, we will see that he lives and that he is next to us but we do not know that it is Him. Let us have discernment and let our faith always be in alert mode. Our Rabbouni, that is to say, our Master is there. Let us savor his presence and rejoice in meeting him again in his new nature of the resurrected crucified. Everything changes when we meet the resurrected one. Our joy becomes ineffable and our faith unshakeable because everything is accomplished; yes his Word has been fulfilled. His Father becomes our Father, his God also becomes ours. Let's announce this great meeting to the whole world. Have a great Easter Monday. Amen
Alain Louz.-