THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD THE MASS OF EASTER DAY-Gospel (Jn 20:1-9)- The Word of God for Everyone
The Resurrection of the Lord
The Mass of Easter Day
(John 20,1-9)
Gospel
John 20:1-9
The Word of God for Everyone
Dear People of God,
Today, we solemnly celebrate the central mystery of Christianity: Jesus Christ, the Second Person of God, came down to earth as a human being, suffered, died a shameful death on the Cross, was buried in the tomb, and on the third day, He rose again to redeem humanity. All of these things God has revealed to humanity on this Easter Day. Although our generations have not seen or witnessed these events, the most important thing is the testimony and the initial preaching of Saint Peter and the Apostles in the message called the "Kerygma."
They were the true witnesses—those who ate, drank, lived, and preached with Jesus Christ; who witnessed His death, burial, and resurrection. His resurrection was not revealed to all people, but to chosen witnesses—those who saw, met, touched, and shared meals with the Risen Christ. Because they believed, they bore witness and lived out the joy of the Resurrection. They joyfully proclaimed the Good News and endured all humiliation, persecution, and hardships for the sake of Jesus Christ, proclaiming this essential and foundational truth of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died and rose again.
So, on this great feast of Easter, what important points do we see? First of all, through the sermon of Saint Peter, this sharing of faith serves to remind all the Jews of the events related to Jesus Christ—from His baptism to His death and resurrection. This is the central content of our faith, because only Jesus, who is God, has the power to rise from the dead, as He said: "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again."
Therefore, this is authentic evidence that is both historical—rooted in a particular time and human experience—and, at the same time, eternal in the divine nature of God and His plan of salvation. From the very beginning, when the first human beings sinned, God promised to send a Savior. The work of that Savior is precisely what Saint Peter solemnly preached in the Acts of the Apostles today.
Through this, God wants all of us—the Church today—to understand that we must fully believe in the Mystery of the Lord's Death and Resurrection, as Saint Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and indeed to all of us, declares: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”
At this moment, we are human beings—creatures living on earth, in this earthly universe—but we are invited to turn our hearts and minds toward Heaven. This place represents a future life, yet it is also realized in the present. Therefore, all our words, actions, thoughts, and intentions must be directed toward Heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. This is the true home for Christians, made possible through the merit of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who brings us from being mere creatures of God to becoming children of God, returning to our Father’s house. This is what Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection offer to all of humanity.
Saint Peter also emphasizes that we must "believe"—and truly believe. This is not an easy matter. Even Saint Peter, who was appointed as the head of the Church, witnessed the empty tomb, yet we hear nothing at that moment about whether he believed. During the 40 days following the Resurrection, during the Lord’s appearances, Peter saw Him, but often needed to be reminded by John, who would say, “It is the Lord!”—such as when Jesus appeared on the shore of Tiberias. It was John who recognized Him and reminded Peter, so that Peter could recognize Him as well.
To “believe” and live this faith, one must have a soul like the Apostle John: a soul that loves God. Only love for God allows a person to perceive and encounter faith deeply. Therefore, John is often considered the first to grasp the reality of the Resurrection, even before seeing the risen Christ. Because John's faith was based on the reminders and predictions of the Bible, John believed, and John also saw the empty tomb like Peter, but John was different from Peter; he saw and believed that Jesus had risen.
Today’s Word of God shows us that we are living a pilgrimage on this earth. What we are called to do is to “believe” and “live” in the faith that Jesus Christ died and rose again. As we believe, walk, and live this journey of faith, it will lead us to our final destination: meeting the Risen Jesus Christ Himself, that is the Kingdom of Heaven, that is Heaven, the place where we gather to be with God, our Father. Let us thank God, knowing that Jesus Christ has brought about a transformation in us—from our human nature to the true image of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Amen
