Easter Sunday

Today is Easter Sunday, the 4 April.

Everyone at Pray As You Go and Jesuits in Britain would like to wish you a very happy Easter. Alleluia, He is risen!

Nóirín Ní Riain, with the monks of Glenstal Abbey, sings An tAiseiri, a song in Irish, telling the story of the discovery of the empty tomb and proclaiming the Resurrection.  As you begin to pray on this Easter Sunday, listen to the joy the deep desire expressed in this music to share the good news of the Resurrection, to share the hope and the joy that it brings… 

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 16:1-7

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’

It is still dark, yet, these three women carry the light of their love to anoint the body of Jesus.  See them making their way to the garden where his tomb is . . . how are they feeling? . . .

Notice the sky brightening in the East; the dawning of a new day . . .

Smell the flowers in the garden where his tomb is . . . listen to the chorus of birds . . . taste the atmosphere . . .

With the women, look at the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb . . . and touch it . . .

What happens as you linger there . . .

How does the joy of this risen Jesus want to touch you this Easter Day?

We adore you O Christ and we bless you

because by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.