Happy Easter, and welcome to the Easter Octave. The church is so excited about Jesus' resurrection that it devotes a full eight days, from Sunday to Sunday, each one a solemnity, to celebrating this incredible reality.
Each day of the octave, we are offered a different resurrection account to reflect on. Each one is a glimpse of
the resurrection, a brief encounter with the resurrected Lord. Let us pray with these this week and use them to train our spiritual eyes to recognise the resurrected Lord walking in our lives.
In today’s resurrection encounter, we meet the women who have seen the empty tomb and are returning to the other disciples to tell them what has happened. They are filled with fear and joy.
The empty tomb elicited intense and confusing emotions in the women, which are difficult to comprehend. What does all of this mean? What do you think is the source of their fear and joy?
Jesus meets and greets them on their way. Once again, they are astounded and joyful, falling to the floor and worshipping him. He invites them to stand up and share their experience with others.
The resurrected Jesus meets us on our paths in familiar ways. How do we respond to his arrival and simple greeting? Do I desire to tell others about my encounter with the Risen Lord?
How do I feel when I contemplate the empty tomb? In what ways have I encountered the resurrected Jesus on my pathways? How have I responded to his presence in my life?
Reflections by Sean van Staden SJ
