April 5, 2026
The Resurrection of the Lord
Gospel: John 20:1-9; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:13-35

Today is the Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. In accordance with the tradition of the Church, from this day forward, the Church enters into the Octave of Easter. The traditional Gospel reading for the daytime Mass of the Resurrection is taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle. Of course, the recently revised Lectionary also offers two alternative options: one may choose the Gospel of the Resurrection Vigil Mass (Matthew 28:1-10) or the account by St. Luke of the risen Lord’s encounter with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). I wish to take this opportunity to share some reflections.

St. John tells us: Mary Magdalene came to Jesus’ tomb and, finding it empty, ran to report to the Apostles, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him” (cf. Jn 20:2). Then Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved came to the empty tomb. Peter entered first, followed by the disciple whom Jesus loved (cf. Jn 20:1-9). This is precisely a true reflection of how we Christians come to embrace the view of life Jesus taught—for we too once regarded the tomb as the end of life. When St. Peter entered that empty tomb, he immediately believed. This shows that he no longer saw the tomb as the end of each person’ss life, but as the starting point of our journey to new life.

St. Matthew and St. Luke tell us of the risen Jesus’ encounters with people. St. Matthew recounts that after His Resurrection, Jesus met with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. St. Luke tells us that Jesus met with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. He did not rebuke them; rather, He gave them peace, enlightened their words and actions, and inspired them to announce the good news of His Resurrection to the Apostles. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, along with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, obeying the inspiration of the Lord, reported to the community of the Apostles all they had seen and their experience of meeting the risen Lord, thus setting an example for us.

Today, the risen Lord also invites us to proclaim to the world the good news of His Resurrection. Let us now together offer our prayer to the risen Lord:

O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica