MONDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - Gospel (Matthew 28:8-15) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt 28:10)

FIRST READING - Acts 2:14, 22-33

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven,

raised his voice, and proclaimed:

“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.

Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

“You who are children of Israel, hear these words.

Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God

with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,

which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.

This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,

you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,

because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

For David says of him:

I saw the Lord ever before me,

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;

my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,

because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,

nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.

My brothers, one can confidently say to you

about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,

and his tomb is in our midst to this day.

But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him

that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,

he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,

that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld

nor did his flesh see corruption.

God raised this Jesus;

of this we are all witnesses.

Exalted at the right hand of God,

he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit

that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 28:8-15

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,

fearful yet overjoyed,

and ran to announce the news to his disciples.

And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.

They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.

Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,

and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city

and told the chief priests all that had happened.

The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;

then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

telling them, “You are to say,

‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’

And if this gets to the ears of the governor,

we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.

And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

MONDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - Gospel (Matthew 28:8-15)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God makes known to humanity that Jesus Christ has truly risen after three days of death. He has conquered death, and death has no power over His life. He died only once and will never die again. He will live forever.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is revealed through the empty tomb. No one has been allowed by God to witness the Lord's resurrection directly.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is recognized through faith, life experience, and the words of Jesus who foretold to the apostles, and those who followed Him that He would die, and after three days, He would rise again.

Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled when the women came to visit the Lord's tomb, they found only the empty tomb and the burial cloths that had been rolled up. The guards also witnessed the empty tomb, but they did not see the Lord's body there anymore.

Both sides believed that The Lord had risen.

As for the women, when they believed that The Lord had risen, they shared their faith and went out to spread the Good News of the Lord's resurrection to others, saying, "The Lord has risen to bring eternal life to mankind."

As for the guards, they also saw and believed that the Lord's resurrection was a miracle, but they were blinded by money and falsely testified that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. Thus, in the same event of the Lord's resurrection, one side testified to the truth, while the other side testified falsely.

In today's era, the truth is God, and it always encounters opposition. Those who believe and live according to God's teachings always bear witness to the truth. Those who do not believe oppose God. They deliberately bear false witness, even though they know that the good things He did are true.

The event of Jesus Christ's resurrection is the same. There were true witnesses, true testimonies, who testified that He was truly resurrected. And continuing up to the present, there are also witnesses, true testimonies, that testify to the love, power, and mercy of God that is constantly bestowed upon humanity to save many sinful souls.

Those who bear false witness because of their love for money are following the path of Satan. These people are trying to find every way to destroy the plan of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of God, who came to earth to become a human being to bring salvation to humanity.

Today, God is calling on humanity:

-To be wise in choosing to follow the path of light, the path of truth, and God's truth.

-Be courageous in bearing witness to the truth about Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, like the apostles and women of old.

Do not follow the actions of the guards: because of their love of money, they bear false witness and lose their souls.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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