Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

symbolizing victory over death and the promise of eternal life.

It offers hope, renewal, and a reminder that love triumphs over sacrifice,

signaling that death is not the end but a transition to new life. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

  Peter then spoke to them,

"No doubt you have heard of the event that occurred throughout the whole country of the Jews,

beginning from Galilee, after the baptism John preached. You know how God anointed Jesus,

the Nazorean, with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good,

and healing all who were under the devil's power, because God was with him;

we are witnesses of all that he did throughout the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem itself.

Yet, they put him to death, by hanging him on a wooden cross.

 

But God raised him to life on the third day, and let him manifest himself, not to all the people,

but to the witnesses that were chosen beforehand by God – to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from death.

And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to bear witness that he is the one appointed

by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets say of him that

everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name."

 

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Colossians 3:1-4 (or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8)

  So then, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above,

not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,

who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in glory.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊

John 20:1-9 (or Mark 16:1-7 or at an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24: 13-35)

Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark,

and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter,

and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them,

"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him."

 

Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together,

but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too,

saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths,

but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in;

he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that Jesus must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina

 Christ is risen!

Read: Today's readings remind us of Easter reality. In the first reading,

Peter proclaims that Jesus, who was killed, rose again and commanded them to bear witness to him

as Lord and God. St. Paul exhorts the Colossians that as believers in the risen Lord, we have all died and risen with him.

As such, we ought to live genuinely as Easter people, setting our hearts on godly matters.

The gospel takes us back to the first Easter morning when the disciples could no longer find the Lord's dead body in the tomb.

 

Reflect: Easter reminds us that there is life after death. The Lord did not remain forever in the tomb; instead,

he rose for you and me. Christ is risen! We who believe in him and are baptized in his spirit share in the power of his resurrection.

We are Easter people. This means we are not meant to stay buried in the tomb of our sins, bad habits,

severe addictions, or depression. Nothing can hold us down anymore - sadness, discouragement,

doubt, not even death. Amid the darkness of the world, with its hatred and violence,

we are reminded that Christ has conquered all and that we have the power to face these challenges.

We, too, can conquer all if we put our faith in him who rose from the dead.

 

Pray: Lord, give me the grace to remain rooted in you and face the world confidently. 

 

Act: Face life's challenges with faith in the power of Christ's resurrection.