April 8, 2026 Wednesday of the Easter Octave Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Today is Wednesday of the Easter Octave. The Gospel according to Saint Luke gives us the story of the Risen Lord Jesus meeting two men on their way to Emmaus.
These two disciples on their way to Emmaus—“As they talked and debated, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him”(cf. Lk 24:16)—what was it that hindered their eyes so that they did not recognize the Risen Lord Jesus? Some brothers and sisters in the faith would say: It was their tears, their sorrowful emotions… What I want to say is: They despaired at the death of Jesus, and despair made them unable to see the Risen Lord. They had thought: Jesus had been crucified; He could not have risen. They had hoped that Jesus would lead them in a revolt, defeat the Romans, and restore the glory of Israel. Now all this had come to nothing.
In this narrative, we see that the Risen Lord Jesus did not rebuke these disciples who failed to recognize Him. “He began with Moses and all the Prophets and interpreted for them the passages about Himself in all the Scriptures”(cf. Lk 24:27). His words made their cold hearts burn within them. Perhaps our hearts too can grow cold for various reasons, and coldness makes us no longer want to listen to God’s Word. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ still accompanies us: He chooses to walk with us, and with His Body and Blood heals our wounded hearts, fills us again with His life, heals our inner wounds, gives us courage and strength, inspires us to return to the parish, to meet our brothers and sisters, and tell them all that the Savior Jesus Christ has done for us.
O God, who gladden us year by year with the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection, graciously grant, that, by celebrating these present festivities, we may merit through them to reach eternal joys. 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
April 7, 2026 Tuesday in the Octave of Easter Gospel: John 20:11-18
Today is Tuesday of the Easter Octave. The passage from Saint John’s Gospel depicts the beautiful scene of Mary Magdalene meeting the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
On the first day of the week (Sunday), early in the morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been laid—one at the head and the other at the feet (cf. Jn 20:1, 11–12). How much she loved Jesus, that the risen Lord made her the first woman to enter His tomb. Her choice to go inside meant she longed to meet Jesus there. For she still viewed life and death according to the logic of this passing world, rather than the logic of God as revealed by Jesus.
Jesus met Mary Magdalene at the place of His burial and said to her:“Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (cf. Jn 20:17) He did not speak these words to any other disciple—intending to show that He is always with us: in the sacraments, whenever we pray to Him, in every person we encounter, and in the Scriptures we read. He wants us to bring the good news of His resurrection to all people, so the world may rediscover the Savior hidden in their lives through our service—especially by seeing our renewed way of life.
During this Easter Octave, let us join in prayer to God:
O God, who have bestowed on us paschal remedies, endow your people with heavenly gifts, so that, possessed of perfect freedom, they may rejoice in heaven over what gladdens them now on earth. 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
April 6, 2026 Monday in the Octave of Easter Gospel: Matthew 28:8-15
Today is the Monday of the Easter Octave. The passage from Saint Matthew’s Gospel recounts the narrative of the risen Lord Jesus Christ meeting Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who loved Jesus deeply, went to His Holy Sepulchre after His death to recall the days they had spent with Him. This resembles what we do today when we visit cemeteries to remember our departed loved ones. The angel said to them:”You are not to be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” (cf. Mt 28:5-7)
Filled with awe and joy, they ran to report this to the disciples—and on their way, Jesus met them again, inviting them to proclaim the good news to the Apostles: “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (cf. Mt 28:10)
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord! For these two women who loved Jesus dearly, what they experienced that morning was destined to be unforgettable throughout their lives. They were more blessed than the disciples of Jesus, for the risen Lord first appeared to them and commissioned them to announce to the Apostles and the Church the joyful news of His glorious resurrection.
We, having received Christian Baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are called like those women to share the mission of proclaiming to the world the resurrection of the Savior. Let us therefore join in prayer to the risen Lord Jesus Christ, that we may worthily fulfil this mission:
O God, who give constant increase to your Church by new offspring, grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives to the Sacrament they have received in faith. 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
全属于祢 
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