“When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” (MK 16: 9)
Our past, even terrible, was never a problem for Our Lord. He knows that our sins, our dark past had some reasons. Jesus’s love is always concerned with forgiveness and a new life we can start. How many of His disciples started as sinners, criminals, traitors, all bad professions, and finished as saints, evangelizers, and examples to follow. There is no excuse for us when we look for reasons not to be leaders or cause of change—bad past? —ask Mary Magdalene, denial? —ask St. Peter, persecution of believers? —ask St. Paul.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Cast the net over the right side of the boat, and you will find something.” (JN 21: 6)
We can do things the right way and the wrong way. To “find something” we need to do things on “the right side.” This is the universal rule; in our work, and our homes, with our spouses and children. Sometimes we are tempted to do things “not-exactly-right,” and we know that these shortcuts never bring good fruits.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (LK 24: 46-48)
Our weaknesses and our limits, our failures, and our sins were taken by Our Lord and repented “for the forgiveness of sins.” And this Good News “would be preached in his name to all nations.” We do not need to feel guilty, blame ourselves; instead, we need to proclaim God’s love and forgiveness and express our love to Him loving our spouses, children, and friends.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” (LK 24: 30)
“And it happened that” is used twice in this story. We know how often things happened in our lives. When we know that Our Lord is among us, that He lives in our hearts and loving us always takes care of us, we understand that “it happened that” is a sign of God’s providence, God’s presence, and God’s protection.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (JN 20: 17)
With Our Lord, we receive a new relationship with God. We were always loved, but from now, there is something special: God became human to give us access to heaven. Not only access but also He made heaven open and waiting for us.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.” (MT 28: 8)
The good news needs to be spread: Mary Magdalene “went away quickly, overjoyed, and ran to announce.” The news comes to others and will be announced by them to others, and more people will enjoy and could change their lives. When we started working on our relationships (with our spouses and children, with our friends and colleagues), we started a new environment, a place of gentleness and respect, of being a gift and protector of rituals, defender of your spouse, and subject-oriented person.
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.” (JN 20: 8)
The first witnesses of the Resurrection—“saw and believed.” We trust them, and also we believe. It is much easier to believe when we see also today witnesses of God’s Resurrection and presence around us: people of prayer, trust, and honesty, respect, and gentleness. When we pray, confess, meditate and read Bible, we help others “see and believe.”
“Christ, our paschal lamb has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.” (MK 16: 2)
Many things depend on our morning wake up, on our morning routine; when our first concern goes to God, to prayer and time with Him, we can expect more peace, respect to others, and better acceptance of unpredictable things. When there is no time for prayer, for solitude and reflection, there is much easier to see others as objects, not subjects, easier to demand than to give, and to create expectations based on our idealistic vision for our spouses or children. Put God in the first place, and everything will land in the right place.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.” (JN 19: 41)
From the garden in Paradise to the garden in Gethsemane leads the path of our redemption. We were loved in Paradise, we are loved in Gethsemane—which means: we are free to choose, to make mistakes, to fail, and to reject God’s love. Only “Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Our freedom is for God so important because there is no right answer possible if we are forced to do something; the same rules are for spouses and for parents, for communities, and for friends.
“Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name.” (Verse before the Gospel)
“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (JN 13: 14-15)
This “model to follow” is not only for Holy Thursday or only for priests; it is universal for everyone who loves. The more we are “masters and teachers,” the more we are invited to “wash one another’s feet.” Starting with gentleness and respect, we learn how to take responsibility and be a free, creative, and joyful gift of selves.
“I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.” (Verse before the Gospel)
