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Understanding the Resurrection
Easter Sunday (Reflection I)
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” John 20:1–2
Have you ever misunderstood something, even when your intentions were good? We all experience moments when we act with love but still get things wrong. Even our good actions are rarely perfect.
On that first Easter morning, before the sun rose, Mary Magdalene offers an example of this. She got some things right—her love and devotion to Jesus were sincere—but she did not yet understand the full reality of what she witnessed. Though the other Gospels mention other women at the tomb, John highlights Mary. Saint Augustine suggests that this is because she was “undoubtedly the most fervent in love” with Christ.
When Mary Magdalene saw the stone rolled away, her love compelled her to act immediately. Saint John Chrysostom says she “ran to the disciples with all the speed of love.” Her fervor drove her to tell Simon Peter and John what she had seen, showing us how love urges us to seek God without delay.
Despite her deep love, Mary misunderstood the meaning of the empty tomb. Her emotional response—“They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him”—reveals her struggle to grasp the mystery unfolding before her. Like many of us, she was driven by emotion rather than a deeper trust in God.
Jesus was certainly not displeased with her misunderstanding, as Scripture identifies her in John 20:11–17 as the first to whom He appeared. When she encountered the risen Christ, she initially mistook Him for the gardener, indicating that her understanding of the Resurrection was still unfolding. Despite that, Jesus met her where she was and guided her toward deeper faith. This reminds us that our emotions, though good, must be purified by faith, allowing love to mature into greater trust and understanding.
Reflect today on Mary Magdalene’s experience on Easter morning. Like her, we are called to seek our Lord with fervor, even when our understanding is incomplete. And like her, we can trust that Jesus will meet us where we are, gently leading us into deeper faith. As we celebrate the Resurrection, pray that your love, with all its emotions, may be more fully purified by grace, so that you, too, will encounter Christ with renewed understanding and joy.
My resurrected Lord, I love You deeply but acknowledge that my love must be further purified by faith so that I will understand You and Your will more clearly. As I grow in understanding of the many divine mysteries You reveal to me, help my love to grow so that I may more perfectly imitate the pure love You desire of me. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Eighth Day of Creation
Easter Sunday (Reflection II)
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. John 20:1
The Book of Genesis states that God created the world in six days, resting on the seventh. Our first parents—Adam and Eve—were created in a state of Original Innocence, enjoying perfect harmony in the Garden of Eden. Had they remained faithful to God, that paradise would have remained our home. Death, disease, war, division, and sin would not exist. All of us would have enjoyed perfect peace and joy eternally, with God as our Ruler.
For humanity to freely love God and one another, God bestowed upon us a precious gift: free will. That gift permitted humans to shape their own destiny, choosing freely to embrace or reject God’s love. We know the story. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, choosing to become like gods by eating from the Tree of Knowledge. God permitted them to do so and they quickly discovered that they were deceived, were not gods, and could not sustain themselves.
Today, on Easter Sunday, we rejoice that God’s creative activity did not stop on the sixth or seventh day. In Christ, the Eighth Day was inaugurated and will culminate with Christ’s return in glory when the New Heaven and New Earth will be established. In the Book of Revelation, Saint John the Evangelist places these words on Christ’s lips for that day when He completes the Eighth Day of creation: “Behold, I make all things new…I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God…” (Revelation 21:5). On that day, the new Paradise will be established, perfect peace will reign, death will be no more, and we will dwell with God, the saints, and angels forever.
This eternal perspective is easily forgotten. It’s easy to live as if this life is the end, which is profound foolishness and a denial of the very meaning of the Resurrection. Note that in today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on “the first day of the week.” That “first day” alludes to the first day of the first creation, when God said, “Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). On Easter morning, the first day of the week became the Eighth Day of creation, or the first day of the New Creation, when God once again said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” When Mary went to the tomb in the dark, Christ was no longer there. After the sun rose, He appeared to Mary in His newly glorified body. He is the New Creation. He is the Light that pierced the darkness. He is the answer to sin and death. He is the Victor in Whom we are invited to share every good thing forever.
When Mary first saw the empty tomb, she did not yet understand that the Eighth Day of Creation had begun. She did not understand that the Light of the World would begin to dispel the darkness in her life and in the lives of all who believe and choose Him as their one God, remedying the disobedience of Adam and Eve. In that moment of the Resurrection, Christ became the New Adam, the new Father of All the Living. If we choose Him as our God, we will be His sons and daughters in His new creation forever.
Reflect today on the Resurrection and the Eighth Day of creation. Just as Mary Magdalene did not yet understand the Resurrection and the eternal effect it would have on her life, we too often struggle to understand it in ours. This life is but a preparation for the next, when the Eighth Day of creation is complete. On this Resurrection Day, recommit yourself to using this life to prepare for the next, for both yourself and your loved ones. As Saint Paul said in our first reading, “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” (Colossians 3:1–2). May Easter bring you the hope you need to drive you toward the new life and light that Jesus came to bestow.
My resurrected Lord, You are the Light of the World, the new Light Who dispels the darkness of sin and death. You are the Resurrection and the Life; only in You will we share in the eternal life You promise. Though I often fail to understand the mystery of Your Resurrection, help me not only to comprehend its meaning but also to share in its fruit now and for eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Mystery of the Resurrection
Easter Sunday (Reflection III)
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. John 20:6–9
When Jesus rose from the dead, why didn’t He visibly reveal Himself to everyone? Why not post angels at the entrance of the tomb and radiate His glory for all to see, shining even more brightly than at the Transfiguration? One might think that such a display would have convinced even the Pharisees and Roman guards who condemned Him. Furthermore, why doesn’t He appear to the whole world today, ensuring that everyone believes and follows Him? Because the only way to partake in the Resurrection of Christ is through the gift of supernatural faith.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (cf. Luke 16:19–31). After they both die, Lazarus is taken to the bosom of Abraham, while the rich man is tormented in the netherworld. The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers, thinking they will repent if someone rises from the dead. But Abraham replies, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” Hence, even if Jesus’ resurrected glory was manifested to all, many would still lack faith.
Supernatural faith is not born from external signs and proofs but from the interior vision granted to hearts open to God. Even the Pharisees heard the reports of Jesus’ Resurrection, but they dismissed them, their hearts hardened against the truth. Jesus did not immediately reveal Himself to all of His disciples either, but He gave them the opportunity to believe through the empty tomb and the burial cloths neatly folded in place.
In today’s Gospel, we see that Mary Magdalene, upon finding the empty tomb, thought Jesus’ body had been stolen. Despite her great love, she did not yet believe and thus did not fully understand the divine mystery of the Resurrection. When Simon Peter and John heard the news, they ran with hope and zeal to the tomb. Though John arrived first, he waited for Peter to enter. When John entered and saw the burial cloths, “he saw and believed.” Yet, even then, the fullness of faith had not yet taken root, for “they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
Entering into the mystery of the Resurrection is not just accepting that it happened; it means allowing the mystery to unfold within us, drawing us into a deeper process of faith. This is what happened to the disciples.
Although Mary Magdalene didn’t yet understand, her great love drew Jesus to appear to her shortly after leaving the tomb—and she believed upon encountering Him. Simon Peter and John were gifted with Jesus’ appearance later that evening, while they were gathered with the other disciples behind locked doors—with only Thomas absent.
As the weeks went on and Jesus appeared again and again, their faith deepened, and they recalled all that He had told them during His public ministry. After Pentecost, the Apostles continued to deepen their understanding of the Resurrection; over time, it transformed their lives more fully. The greater their understanding, the more powerfully the mystery of the Resurrection shaped their hearts and mission.
Reflect today on the historical fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took on human nature, was crucified, and physically rose from the dead with a glorified body. Begin by simply placing your faith in this mystery. As you do, acknowledge that faith is not the end but the beginning. Entering into the mystery of the Resurrection is a lifelong process of believing and understanding. The more you believe, the more you will understand. The more you understand, the more you will believe. Faith in the Resurrection leads us on an upward journey toward ever greater clarity and certainty, drawing us more deeply into love of Him Who is the Resurrection and the Life.
My glorious and resurrected Lord, You triumphed over sin and death, rising from the dead with a new and glorified body. With the utmost faith, I profess that I believe in You; help my unbelief. Give me the humility I need to acknowledge that my faith in Your Resurrection must deepen. Draw me into that living Mystery of Faith, dear Lord, so that Your Resurrection takes greater hold on my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Witness of the Roman Guards
Monday in the Octave of Easter
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.’” Matthew 28:11–13
Imagine being one of the Roman guards tasked with keeping watch outside Jesus’ tomb. They likely had little interest in what seemed to them merely a religious dispute between Jesus, the chief priests, and elders. Some of Jesus’ followers believed He would rise from the dead, and there were rumors that they might steal Jesus’ body to claim that He had. With Pilate’s approval, the Roman guards were stationed outside the tomb, perhaps talking, playing games, or just resting.
The context of today’s Gospel is important to understand. Matthew 28:2–7 tells us that as the guards were at the tomb, there was suddenly an earthquake, and “an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.” The angel appeared “like lightning, and his clothing was white as snow.” The guards “were shaken with fear of the angel and became like dead men.” It must have been quite a scene to behold.
Recall that prior to Jesus’ death, Roman soldiers had treated Him with cruelty: they scourged Him, mocked Him, forced Him to carry His cross, and killed Him. Yet, Matthew’s Gospel points out that some Roman soldiers were converted when they saw how Jesus died. The earth quaked, rocks split, and tombs were opened. When they witnessed this, they were filled with fear and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).
In addition to the guards, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had just arrived at the tomb to witness the event. The guards watched and listened as the angel spoke to the women, saying, “Do not 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 and see the place where he lay…”
Again, imagine being one of those Roman guards. When they reported what happened to the chief priests, they might have expected them to believe their story. Instead, the priests bribed them, instructing them to spread the story that they had fallen asleep and that Jesus’ followers stole the body. Falling asleep on duty for a Roman guard was a serious offense, punishable by death, but fear and greed won out. They took the money and spread the lie. Yet what they saw would have stirred their hearts, likely stirring their consciences for the rest of their lives.
It’s entirely possible that in the years ahead, some of these guards began to speak openly about what they experienced. As they pondered what happened, witnessed faith in Jesus grow, and reflected on their dishonesty, some might have found the strength to repent and speak the truth. God, in His perfect mercy, would have accepted that repentance, healed their consciences, and filled them with strength and consolation. Just as Peter’s denial was transformed by God’s mercy, so too might these soldiers have been transformed with time and grace.
Reflect today on these Roman guards and put yourself in their shoes. Are there times when you have downplayed your faith around others because it was easier? Have you felt fear when your faith was challenged? Have you been pressured to misrepresent your convictions to fit in? If so, you can both relate to the guards and learn from them. Even if you have struggled to profess the Gospel with honesty and courage in the past, it is never too late to change. As we celebrate the octave of the Resurrection, resolve to be a witness to the Resurrection with courage and sincerity. Reflect on any reasons you might hesitate, and pray for the grace to proclaim it joyfully, rejoicing in the incredible privilege of openly professing faith in our resurrected Lord!
My victorious Savior, Your Resurrection affects all people. At the end of time, all will know Who You are and what You have done. Please give me the grace to profess my faith in Your glorious victory over sin and death so that others will come to know You before it is too late and have the courage to follow You in faith. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Clarity of Holy Love
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” John 20:11–12
Mary Magdalene was one of the women who accompanied Jesus and the Twelve Apostles as they traveled from town to town during His public ministry. Luke 8:2 introduces her as “Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” Being possessed by seven demons signifies complete possession, illustrating the depth of her suffering. Though demons cannot touch a person’s soul, they can afflict the body, which was the case with Mary. While Scripture does not tell us how she became afflicted, we can imagine the profound gratitude she must have felt after her deliverance. This gratitude, joined with her newfound faith, made Mary one of Jesus’ most faithful and devoted followers.
Today’s Gospel offers a glimpse into Mary’s unshakable love for Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels mention that she was not alone when she went to the tomb to honor His body. However, John’s Gospel focuses solely on Mary, likely to highlight her unique experience and encourage us to learn from the depth of her devotion.
Mary’s early morning visit to the tomb reveals her passionate love—she could not wait to honor Him, even if only by tending to His lifeless body. Finding the tomb empty, she immediately ran to inform the disciples. Peter and John hurried to see for themselves, with Mary following behind. After the two disciples saw the empty tomb and left, Mary remained, setting the stage for today’s passage.
Saint John seems to invite us to contemplate Mary’s actions. Imagine Peter and John leaving, while Mary remains, seated at the entrance of the tomb, weeping. Though she did not yet understand that Jesus had risen, her love for Him held her there, anchored in the place where He had been laid. In times of distress, confusion, or uncertainty, we are called to imitate Mary’s steadfast devotion. Our love for Jesus should draw us spiritually to His empty tomb, keeping us close even when understanding eludes us.
As Mary wept outside the tomb, she did not know what would come next. She only knew she needed to be there. Her mind was clouded with grief, but her heart led her to stay. She remained not out of reason, but because her heart, filled with love, kept her there.
In following her heart—consumed with love for Jesus—Mary was led to a life-changing encounter. When Jesus appeared, she initially mistook Him for the gardener and, in her passionate longing, begged Him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Again, she spoke from her heart rather than from understanding. But then Jesus called her by name: “Mary!” In that moment, her heart and mind were united, and she recognized Him. With this recognition, she saw and believed.
Reflect today on Mary Magdalene weeping outside Jesus’ empty tomb and then hearing Him say, “Mary!” That she is the first person in Scripture to see the risen Lord is deeply significant. Clearly, God desires that we learn from her and imitate her love. Though we might not have been delivered from seven demons, we have been delivered from sin. This should stir in us a gratitude so deep that we willingly abandon all to follow Him. And when life is confusing or uncertain, we, like Mary, must follow the holy desires God places in our hearts, so that our love for Christ will lead us through uncertainty into clarity, when, like Mary, we hear our Lord call us by name.
My risen Lord, Your empty tomb is a symbol of the longing I must have for You when I encounter life’s uncertainties. When I am confused and do not know where to turn, please flood my heart with an unshakable desire for You so that my love will lead me to where You are and where You want me to be. Jesus, I trust in You.
Our Hidden Lord Revealed
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13–16
Why were these two disciples prevented from recognizing Jesus when He appeared to them on Easter Sunday? Earlier that morning, as Luke recounts (Luke 24:1–12), Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary—the mother of James—and other unnamed disciples found the tomb empty. While they were there, “two men in dazzling garments appeared to them” proclaiming that Jesus had risen. When the women told the rest of the disciples, their story “seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe them.” Surprisingly, for some of the disciples, Jesus’ Resurrection was not immediately a cause for rejoicing—it was a cause for uncertainty and, sadly, disbelief.
Today’s Gospel recounts what happened later that day when two disciples who had heard the women’s testimony took a seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. In John’s Gospel, when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she didn’t recognize Him until He said her name, “Mary!” (John 20:16). By speaking her name, Jesus not only showed He knew her but also revealed His resurrected presence to her.
When Jesus appeared to the two disciples walking to Emmaus, He revealed Himself in a different way. He walked with them, allowed them to express their confusion and even doubt, and then interpreted the Scriptures to them, beginning with Moses, so they understood how the Scriptures pointed to Him as the Messiah.
So back to our original question: Why were the eyes of these two disciples prevented from recognizing Jesus when He appeared to them? Because faith in the Resurrection doesn’t come from physical sight alone; it comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God, which opens our hearts to believe. Jesus preached the Gospel to these two disciples, and through that preaching, they came to believe.
The story of Emmaus not only recounts an encounter with the risen Christ but also offers a model for our own encounter with Him in the Mass. First, the Word of God is read and preached. Then, the bread and wine are consecrated into the True Presence of Jesus, which we consume. In the story of Emmaus, Jesus’ preaching inspired faith in these disciples. Once they understood and believed, Jesus “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30–31). In this breaking of the bread, they recognized Him. Jesus had given them faith through the Word of God and nourished that faith with the Eucharist.
Why did Jesus vanish at that moment? Because He now dwelled within their souls—a presence sustained each time we receive Him in the Eucharist, His True Presence entering our own hearts and lives. His bodily presence was no longer necessary for them; they now carried Him within. The Word of God instills faith, preparing our hearts, and the Eucharist brings us into intimate union with our Lord, who dwells within us.
Reflect today on how you encounter Jesus in the Mass. At Mass, Jesus appears to us in the exact way we need Him, through Word and Sacrament. When we listen to the Word of God, internalize it, and let it spark deeper faith in our hearts, we have truly met our Lord. When we kneel before the Eucharist and consume Him in Holy Communion, Jesus is even more intimately present to us than if He were physically before us. Each Communion infinitely blesses our souls, for through this gift, Jesus enters and makes our souls His sanctuary.
My Eucharistic Lord, You truly come to us every time we participate in the Mass. Please help me to make my participation in the Mass a reflection of the encounter of these two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Open my mind to the gift of faith as I hear Your Word proclaimed and preached. With faith, may I then receive You openly in Holy Communion, so that my soul will become a sanctuary in which Your resurrected presence may dwell. Jesus, I trust in You and welcome. You with all my heart.
Shalom and Truth
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:44–45
Have you allowed God to open your mind? When you read through the Scriptures, are you able to comprehend the hidden yet glorious mysteries contained within them? The Scriptures are not only a historical book we interpret through the use of our intelligence alone. There is a layer of meaning within them that no human mind can penetrate without the assistance of grace.
Today’s resurrection appearance in Luke’s Gospel took place later in the day on Easter Sunday. That morning, our resurrected Lord appeared in physical form to some of the holy women and then to Simon Peter. In the afternoon, Jesus appeared to two of the disciples as they journeyed to the town of Emmaus, several miles from Jerusalem. Those disciples did not recognize Jesus until He opened their minds and revealed Himself in the “breaking of the bread,” foreshadowing the Eucharist. After that appearance, those two disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell the eleven and the other disciples about their encounter. It was during that conversation, behind closed doors, that Jesus appeared to all of them Easter evening, except for Thomas who was absent.
Jesus first said to them, “Peace be with you.” This was no ordinary greeting. In Hebrew, Jesus said, “Shalom.” The shalom Jesus spoke of was an imparting of His grace that brought about the tranquility that those who are united to God experience. The peace Jesus spoke of and imparted flowed from the power of His victory over sin and death, by His Passion and Resurrection. That same shalom is given to us when we worthily and fruitfully participate in the sacraments. Through these gifts, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, we receive the transforming power of the Paschal Mystery: His life, death, and Resurrection, bestowed through the Holy Spirit.
Once the grace of peace was bestowed, Jesus instructed them to receive it without fear. As this peace rested upon them, Jesus was able to give them another gift: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Throughout Jesus’ public ministry, He spoke about the necessity of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He pointed to the prophecies and promises about Him that were contained within the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Until that moment, Jesus’ teaching had not fully penetrated their minds. They heard His perfect sermons, but the full meaning of what He said eluded them. During this resurrection appearance, however, they understood, as Jesus granted them the supernatural gift of Understanding—a gift of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates divine truths and helps us to perceive God’s mysteries in a way we could never achieve on our own.
Our Lord wants to open your mind, just as He did for His disciples that Easter day. Too often, we go through life in a state of confusion. We easily misinterpret our joys and struggles, leaving us on our own to make sense of our lives. Jesus wants to remedy that. He wants us to understand everything as He sees it. He invites us to receive His peace, His shalom, that brings order and tranquility to our lives and unites us in communion with God and others. From there, the Holy Spirit opens our minds to see everything through the lens of divine truth.
Reflect today on how God might be calling you to live in this peace and understanding, particularly by fostering a deeper relationship with Him in the sacraments, in prayer, and in daily reflection on the Scriptures. By receiving the grace of shalom and an understanding of divine truths, we are strengthened for our mission to witness to the Resurrection and to share Christ’s love with a world in need of His peace.
Lord of all Understanding, there are many things in life that leave me confused. I often judge my hopes, joys, sorrows, and challenges by a worldly perspective that is devoid of Your Truth. Please grant me Your perfect peace so that I can rest in You. As Your peace, Your shalom, brings tranquility to my life, open my mind to know You and to understand everything from Your perspective, so that through me, You can bring Your peace and truth to the world. Jesus, I trust in You.
Discerning Jesus’ Presence
Friday in the Octave of Easter
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. John 21:3–6
In three of His resurrection appearances, Jesus did not immediately reveal His true presence to His disciples. He wanted to teach them—and us—important lessons on how we are to encounter Him. In each of these appearances, the same thing happened: Those to whom Jesus appeared did not recognize Him at first. Only after some interaction with Him were their eyes opened to discern that it was the Lord.
The first of these encounters is recorded in John 20:11–18, when Mary Magdalene sat outside Jesus’ empty tomb, weeping at the thought that His body had been stolen. She remained there with profound devotion and love, revealing a model for our prayer. Only when Jesus called Mary by name did she recognize Him. This personal call opens her eyes, reminding us of the importance of a personal relationship with Christ. In imitation of Mary’s deep love and steadfast devotion, we are invited to remain vigilant in prayer, ready to hear Him call us by name.
The second instance is in Luke 24:13-35, when two disciples journeying to Emmaus are joined by Jesus, though “their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” As they walked, Jesus explained everything in the Scriptures that pointed to His messianic mission. This teaches us that we, too, encounter the Lord in the Word of God. By reading, pondering, and praying over Scripture, we open ourselves to meeting Him. Once the disciples understood the Scriptures, Jesus broke bread with them, and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Jesus’ disappearance at that moment reveals a profound truth: He remains truly present in the Eucharist, even though we do not physically see Him.
Finally, in today’s Gospel passage from John 21:1–14, the disciples recognize Jesus only after the miraculous catch of fish. Having fished all night without success, they obey when Jesus tells them from the shore to “Cast the net over the right side of the boat,” resulting in an overwhelming catch. This reminds us of the moment when Jesus first called Simon Peter and Andrew, saying, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Here, Jesus reveals to the Apostles—and to us—that we will encounter Him in our apostolic works when done at His command. When we align our actions with His will, He blesses them, yielding an abundance of spiritual fruit. Thus, our apostolic efforts are another way in which the Risen Lord is present with us, working through us to draw souls to Himself.
Reflect today on the longing of Jesus’ disciples to encounter His resurrected presence. Ponder the lessons He imparted by initially concealing His presence, then revealing Himself. Resolve to seek the living and resurrected Lord in your life. Through love and devotion, meet Him in prayer, where He calls you by name. In the Word of God and the Eucharist, recognize Him in your midst. And in fidelity to His guiding hand in your apostolic work, see His superabundant fruitfulness as a sign of His presence, drawing many souls to Himself through you. Jesus is not dead; He is alive and desires to continue appearing to us in hidden and mysterious ways. Anticipate His ongoing resurrection appearance in your life, knowing that He is always with you when you remain faithful, in imitation of these holy disciples.
My ever-present Lord, You are always attentive to us, Your children, and never abandon us. You call each of us by name, come to us through Your Word and Sacraments, and direct our apostolic works. Help me to discern Your presence in my life, discovering You every day in the ways You desire to be present to me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Faith & Hope vs. Fear & Despair
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. Mark 16:9–11
Today’s Gospel from Saint Mark offers a concise summary of three of Jesus’ resurrection appearances. Rather than presenting these appearances in detail or as separate encounters, Mark strings them together to convey one clear message: fear and despair resulting from suffering must give way to faith and hope because of the Resurrection.
Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene, simply stating that Jesus appeared to her. Immediately, Mark relates that Mary went to tell Jesus’ companions, including the eleven and some other followers. When Mary went to tell them Jesus had appeared to her, she found them “mourning and weeping.” After she told them Jesus had risen, “they did not believe.”
“Mourning and weeping” are the result of fear, doubt, and despair. While mourning in the form of holy sorrow can arise from genuine charity, as taught in the Beatitudes, mourning as sadness stems from a heart overcome by fear, anxiety, or doubt—each of which can lead to despair. The fruit of despair, as Mark reveals here, is disbelief.
After this account, Mark relates a shortened version of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. That same Easter day on which Jesus rose and appeared to Mary Magdalene, He appeared to these two disciples. They quickly returned to Jerusalem to share their experience with the eleven and other disciples, who had already disbelieved Mary Magdalene’s testimony. Once again, “they did not believe them either.”
Finally, later on the same day, Mark states: “as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised” (Mark 16:14). Saint Mark the Evangelist wants us to know that even the eleven remaining Apostles, along with the other disciples, did not immediately believe in the Resurrection. They did not believe until Jesus appeared before them, revealing their hardness of heart that prevented true faith in His word. Jesus rebuked them for this unbelief, showing that the heart closed to faith cannot receive the hope He offers.
If Jesus’ closest companions struggled with faith in the Resurrection and the hope that such faith brings, then we should each prayerfully reflect upon the depth of faith—or lack thereof—we have in the Resurrection.
Practically speaking, what does it mean to have faith in the Resurrection? It means that we will not face life’s crosses with self-pity, sadness, discouragement, or despair. If we understand the glory and transforming power of Christ’s Resurrection, we will immediately perceive every suffering we endure as an opportunity for grace and triumph, not defeat.
Because the disciples did not yet understand the Resurrection, they were mourning without hope. Their minds could not comprehend that the death they had witnessed just days before was now transformed into the most glorious event in human history. When Jesus appeared to them as a group, His rebuke was an act of love, to teach them they must change their understanding of His death and see it through the lens of His Resurrection. We must do the same in our lives.
Reflect today on any cross you carry or suffering you endure. Learn from the sadness and despair that led to disbelief among the disciples. Listen to our Resurrected Lord who lovingly rebukes you and invites you to see the great value in every suffering that you unite to His Cross. His Resurrection must bring a clarity that instills hope into our lives. Commit to live as the disciples did, after Jesus rebuked them, rejoicing that Jesus’ Resurrection conquers all.
Most glorious Lord, Your Resurrection transformed Your suffering and death into the means of eternal salvation for all who believe in You. Help me to be open to that transforming grace and to unite my own sufferings with Yours so that all I endure will be transformed and so that I may share in the glory of Your Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Inexhaustible Depths of Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday (Year A)
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. John 20:30–31
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through that belief you will inherit eternal life? Belief begins with an intellectual assent but must continuously deepen. The belief Saint John speaks of in today’s Gospel is one that draws us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s Paschal Mystery—His Life, Death, and Resurrection—so as to receive the gift of His abundant and transforming Mercy.
Today is the eighth day of Easter. The Church, in Her wisdom, celebrates the most important days of the liturgical year for eight days. Historically, there were a number of feasts celebrated with octaves: Easter, Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Ascension, All Saints, and in some locales, the Sacred Heart and various Marian feasts. After Vatican II, the Church focused on two—Christmas and Easter—so as to give greater emphasis to the core of the Paschal Mystery.
In the year 2000, the Octave of Easter took on a new focus when Pope John Paul II instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy on the eighth day of Easter. This was done in response to Jesus’ personal request, communicated to the Church through a humble cloistered Polish nun. Canonized in 2000, she is known as Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.
Between 1931 and 1938, Sister Faustina received numerous mystical visions that she recorded in six notebooks, now referred to collectively as Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. Almost two years before her death, Sister Faustina recorded the following entry in her diary:
On one occasion, I heard these words: “My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flows are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary #699).
When we reflect on this beautiful private revelation in the light of today’s Gospel, we are invited to consider that even though the Gospels present us with all we need to know in order to come to faith in Christ and share in the new life He bestows, the treasure of His Divine Mercy is inexhaustible. Just as “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book,” so also the depths of His ongoing work, His Divine Mercy, will only be seen in Heaven.
Divine Mercy Sunday is a day on which we are to profess our belief in this Mercy. To do so, we must ponder these inexhaustible treasures, probe their depths with the aid of Saint Faustina’s private revelations, and then allow our Lord to reveal them to us within the depths of our souls.
Reflect today on the infinite and inexhaustible treasures found in the Person of Christ and His Divine Mercy. His Mercy draws us into countless unrecorded and glorious graces that we are called to receive and rejoice in. Believe in His Mercy. Be open to it. Call upon it today, and receive it more abundantly.
Most Merciful Jesus, Your mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I pray that You will pour out Your Mercy upon me and on the whole world. Fill us with the grace You won through Your Paschal Mystery so that all people will come to believe in You as their Lord and God. Jesus, I trust in You.
Believing in The Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday (Year B)
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” John 20:28–29
Why did Thomas doubt Jesus’ Resurrection? As recorded in today’s Gospel, Thomas was not with the other disciples the first time Jesus appeared to them as a group after His Resurrection. When Thomas learned that Jesus had appeared to the others while he was absent, he said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Perhaps Thomas was angry he was not present or jealous of those who saw Jesus resurrected. Perhaps he was so devastated by witnessing Jesus’ death that he became confused or disillusioned. Whatever the cause, he had to wrestle with his disbelief for an entire week while the other disciples likely spoke joyfully about their experience.
When Jesus appeared a week later, Thomas was with them. This time, Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe” (John 20:27). With that, Thomas cried out a prayer that has been repeated by the faithful throughout the centuries, especially during the consecration at Mass: “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas’ doubt has been turned into a gift for each of us. We can say that Thomas doubted so that each of us could believe. It might even be that our Lord withheld the gift of faith from Thomas for that first week of the Resurrection so that all who follow, “those who have not seen,” including each of us, would find in Thomas’ doubt a reason to come to faith in Him whom we do not see resurrected with our eyes.
Today, as we celebrate the great Solemnity of Divine Mercy Sunday—the eighth day of the Octave of Easter—we especially turn our attention to Jesus’ wounded side, from which flows the grace of His Divine Mercy. Between 1931 and 1938, Jesus appeared to Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, a cloistered Polish nun, revealing to her the depths of His Divine Mercy. Sister Faustina recorded these private revelations in six notebooks now referred to collectively as Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. After much scrutiny by the Church, Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina on the octave day of Easter in 2000. Following Jesus’ directions to Saint Faustina, the Holy Father instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy for celebration by the Universal Church.
Among the many revelations recorded in her notebooks, Jesus asked Sister Faustina: “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world” (Diary #47). Of the image, Sister Faustina wrote that “there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale.” These rays shone forth from His Sacred Heart and depict His flowing mercy, especially through the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. At a later date, Jesus said:
“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy” (Diary #367).
The same wound in Jesus’ side that Thomas touched with his hand became the source of grace for a hurting and sinful world. If you ever doubt this Mercy, know that Thomas’ doubt was for you—so you could believe. After touching Jesus’ wounded Heart, he cried out the prayer we must all pray, “My Lord and my God!”
On this Divine Mercy Sunday, reflect on Saint Thomas’ prayer, “My Lord and my God,” and make it your own. If there are areas in which you doubt God’s infinite mercy—whether from confusion, uncertainty, or past wounds—offer these to the Lord in an act of trust. Say with the Church and all the faithful, “Jesus, I trust in You.” Just as Jesus invited Thomas to touch His wounds, He now invites each of us to approach His Heart and receive His unfathomable Divine Mercy. Resolve to overcome doubt by opening your heart to His mercy today!
Most merciful Lord, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, I believe and profess that the wound in Your Sacred Heart continuously pours forth Your Divine Mercy upon me and the whole world. My Lord and my God, I trust in You with all my heart. Where doubt and sin remain, cleanse me so that I can cry out with all the faithful: Jesus, I trust in You!
The Unfathomable Divine Mercy
Divine Mercy Sunday (Year C)
Since the great Jubilee year of 2000, the Universal Church has celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday on the eighth and final day of the Octave of Easter. This is thanks to Jesus, Pope Saint John Paul II, and Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, a cloistered Polish nun, who received numerous private revelations from Jesus between 1931 and 1938. Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina on April 30, 2000, the same day he instituted Divine Mercy Sunday for the Universal Church.
What is Divine Mercy Sunday? It’s a day on which Jesus promises to open the floodgates of grace, offering complete forgiveness of sins and removal of punishment to those who receive Him in Holy Communion after Confession, turning to His Merciful Heart with faith, hope, and love. Though the depth of this feast is best appreciated by reading the entirety of Saint Faustina’s private revelations, found in Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, consider these words from Jesus as recorded by Saint Faustina:
“In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me, Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world” (Diary #47).
“Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy” (Diary #300).
“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners. If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy” (Diary #367).
“I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flows are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity” (Diary #699).
“Souls perish in spite of My bitter Passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation; that is, the Feast of My Mercy. If they will not adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity” (Diary #965).
“I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy” (Diary #1059).
“My daughter, write that the greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy; urge all souls to trust in the unfathomable abyss of My mercy, because I want to save them all” (Diary #1182).
Reflect today on the unfathomable gift of The Divine Mercy! Read these private revelations given to Saint Faustina and allow Jesus to speak to you through them. Do not doubt; do not give in to discouragement. Trust in Him with all your heart and know that the floodgates of Divine Mercy are open to you today and always!
My Lord, You are The Divine Mercy. Your very essence is perfect Love, a love so strong that it overflows from Your wounded Heart through the red and pale rays of grace. Give me the grace I need to understand all that You wish to bestow on me, and open my heart to receive the infinite treasures of Your mercy. Jesus, I trust in You!
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