MOMENTS WITH THE GOSPEL
Easter Sunday Reflection
For Year C, there are two Gospel options
from Luke and one from John:
- Luke
24:1-12 – The women at the tomb, Peter running to see for himself.
- Luke
24:13-35 (Optional Evening Gospel) – The Road to Emmaus (which is
also used on Easter Monday).
- John
20:1-9 (Alternative Gospel for all years) – The empty tomb, with
Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the beloved disciple.
Since the Luke 24:1-12 passage is the
primary option, that’s where I’ll focus the reflection, with connections to the
others if needed.
Reflection –
Luke 24:1-12
1. The Women
at the Tomb – Standing in the Mystery
Early
in the morning, the women—Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of
James—go to the tomb with spices, expecting to anoint Jesus’ body. Instead,
they find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
- They had
come expecting death but were instead met with life.
- The
empty tomb is the first sign of the Resurrection, but at first, it is a
mystery, not yet a moment of recognition.
This
reminds us that sometimes faith requires trust before understanding
The
women arrive at the tomb early in the morning, and the stone is already rolled
away. Unlike in Matthew’s Gospel, where there is an earthquake and an angel
rolling the stone away, here in Luke, the miraculous event has already happened.
"They
went inside but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there,
not knowing what to think, two men in dazzling garments suddenly appeared
before them."
(Luke 24:3-4)
Let
us notice though their reaction: they don’t immediately react in fear or run
away. Instead, they stand there, processing what they are seeing. They are in a
moment of confusion, suspended between what they expected and the reality
before them.
Then, the
angels appear and challenge them:
"Why do
you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"
In this account, we are told that the
women lower their eyes, which is a detail that echoes the Transfiguration, when
Peter, James, and John were overcome with awe and fear in the presence of
Christ’s glory.
"They
fell on their faces and were terrified." (Matthew 17:6)
Both moments reveal a glimpse of divine
power—one on the mountain in radiant glory, the other in an empty tomb with
dazzling angels.
The angels remind them of Jesus' own
words—that He had foretold His death and resurrection.
This is an important detail:
- The
women don’t understand immediately, but they listen.
- They are
reminded of Jesus’ words and let them take root in their hearts.
- Faith
comes not just from seeing, but from remembering what Jesus has said.
When the angel
appears one of the most powerful lines in Scripture is spoken:
“Why do you
seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5-6)
It is spoken to
us as well: What does this powerful line
say to us?
- This is
a challenge and an invitation—stop looking for Christ in the past, in
sorrow, in limitation.
- The
Resurrection changes everything—we must look for Christ in life, in renewal,
in hope.
- How
often do we hold on to “tombs” in our own lives, believing that the past
defines us? The angels call us out of the tomb, just as Jesus calls us
into new life.
2. The
Women’s Response – Proclaiming the Good News
The Women’s
response is telling. Instead of going
home in shock, they act.
"Returning
from the tomb, they told all this to the Eleven and to all the others." (Luke 24:9)
They take on
the role of the first evangelists—the first to proclaim the Resurrection!
Yet, when they
tell the Eleven, they are met with dismissal:
"But
their words seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe them." (Luke 24:11)
This
contrast is so striking—the women have encountered the angel, listened, and
acted—while the disciples reject their message outright.
This is not a commentary on gender but
rather on different dispositions of faith. The women are open to what they have
seen and heard, while the disciples are still locked in grief and disbelief.
They also had not experienced it personally so to process what they women had
told them would have been difficult emotionally and in their hearts.
3. Peter’s
Response – Running to the Tomb
Despite the scepticism of the other
disciples, Peter runs to check for himself.
"Peter, however, got up and ran to
the tomb. Stooping down, he saw only the burial cloths. Then he went home
amazed at what had happened."
(Luke 24:12)
This is so powerful, especially
considering Peter’s recent denial of Jesus.
We do not know what was in Peter’s heart
when he ran to the tomb—perhaps with doubt, perhaps with hope, but Luke
indicates certainly with urgency. Peter does not see the angels, nor does he
hear the proclamation that the women heard. He only sees the linen cloths. And
yet, he goes home amazed.
This is a different kind of faith—a
faith that is awakening but still uncertain. He does not yet understand fully,
but he is open to consider the possibility.
The women rush back to tell the
apostles, but they are met with disbelief. Their words seemed like nonsense to
the men—except for Peter.
“Peter, however, got up and ran to the
tomb.” (Luke 24:12)
Peter’s reaction is striking—he does not
hesitate. He runs. This is especially powerful considering his recent denial of
Jesus. How much must have been stirring in his heart as he rushed toward the
tomb?
Peter runs because hope has been
awakened in him. Even after denying Jesus, he still seeks Him. Perhaps crying
those bitter tears after denying Jesus and remembering the look of love Jesus gave
him, softened his heart enough to hope again.
He sees the linen cloths but does not
yet understand. The Resurrection is not an immediate revelation—it is a journey
of faith.
Peter’s response is so human as we do
not always grasp God’s work in our lives instantly. Sometimes, we must run
toward the mystery before we understand it.
4. The
Contrast Between Responses
From this passage
gives three different reactions to the Resurrection:
- The
women – Seek Jesus, find an empty tomb, listen to the angel, remember His
words, and proclaim the truth.
- The
disciples – Hear the good news of the Resurrection, but dismiss it as
nonsense.
- Peter –
Doubts but goes to see for himself and leaves amazed.
This is so relatable—because even today,
people react to Christ’s Resurrection in different ways:
- Some
embrace the message fully (like the women).
- Some
reject it outright (like the Eleven at first).
- Some
seek but are still on the journey to full belief (like Peter).
The question for us is:
- Do we
run toward the Resurrection like Peter?
- Do we listen
and proclaim like the women?
- Or do we
dismiss the Good News as "nonsense" because we are still stuck
in our own expectations?
Connections
to the Other Gospel Options
- The
Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35, optional evening Gospel)
The two disciples are walking away from
Jerusalem, disheartened—but Jesus walks with them. They do not recognize Him
until the breaking of the bread—showing that Jesus reveals Himself in the
Eucharist. This passage reminds us that Christ is alive and walks with us, even
when we do not perceive Him.
- John
20:1-9 – The Beloved Disciple’s Faith
This version focuses on Mary Magdalene,
Peter, and John (the beloved disciple). Peter enters the tomb first, but it is
John who sees and believes just as he tells us in his account in the Passion
that his testimony is true.
The Resurrection is about faith—not just
evidence, but a willingness to trust.
A Gospel of
Encounter
The
Resurrection was not immediately obvious to everyone. It required:
- Seeking
(The women went to the tomb).
- Listening
(The angels reminded them of Jesus' words).
- Proclaiming
(The women shared the news).
- Questioning
and Seeking Again (Peter ran to see for himself).
Easter
is an invitation to all of us—to seek, to listen, to proclaim, and to keep
running toward the truth.
Living in
the Light of the Resurrection
The empty tomb is not just a moment in
history—it is an invitation to new life.
- Are we
like the women, struggling to understand but brave enough to go and seek
Christ?
- Are we
like Peter, running toward the unknown, willing to believe even when we
don’t fully grasp it?
- Are we
like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, needing Christ to walk with us
before our eyes are opened?
The Resurrection is not just an event.
It has to be a reality that changes everything. Christ calls us out of the
tomb, out of sorrow, doubt, and fear, into the fullness of life, love, and joy.
Closing
Reflection
"Why do
you seek the living among the dead?"
This question echoes through time. Are
we looking for Jesus in places where He no longer is?
- Are we
stuck in tombs of past failures, pain, and doubt?
- Or are
we ready to embrace the new life of Resurrection, even if we don’t fully
understand it yet?
Christ is not in the tomb—He is alive,
waiting to be found, calling us into new life.
"Why do you seek the living among
the dead? He is not here; He is risen." (Luke 24:5-6)
As we enter into Eastertide for the next
50 days, may we take the time to seek Christ in life, in joy, and in
renewal—for He is alive, and His Resurrection is our greatest hope!
Indeed, just as the Responsorial Psalm
for this glorious day says ‘This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice
and be glad’. May this be our alleluia through Eastertide.
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