Moments with the Gospel Easter Sunday Year C

 MOMENTS WITH THE GOSPEL

EASTER SUNDAY.

Easter Sunday Reflection

For Year C, there are two Gospel options from Luke and one from John:

1. Luke 24:1-12 – The women at the tomb, Peter running to see for himself.
2. Luke 24:13-35 (Optional Evening Gospel) – The Road to Emmaus (which is also used on Easter Monday).
3. 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:

1. The women – Seek Jesus, find an empty tomb, listen to the angel, remember His words, and proclaim the truth.
2. The disciples – Hear the good news of the Resurrection, but dismiss it as nonsense.
3. 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

1. 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.

2. 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:

1. Seeking (The women went to the tomb).
2. Listening (The angels reminded them of Jesus' words).
3. Proclaiming (The women shared the news).
4. 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.