Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041922.cfm
In the past 6 weeks, we’ve been immersed in Lent and the poignant Holy Week liturgies, and it is now time to celebrate this beautiful and meaningful Easter season. Lent, and Easter, and the Pentecost days to come, are all connected. Our readings today make this clear and can all be summed up in three key actions: reform, rejoice and retell.
First, reform. That’s what Lent was all about for us, and that’s what Peter is telling the people to do in the first reading. They were ‘cut to the heart’ when Peter reminded them that they had crucified Jesus, and now they wanted to reform their lives. Peter told them to repent, be baptized, and indeed, thousands did so that day. They were promised the Holy Spirit, and they waited with hope.
We, too, had opportunities during Lent to reform our lives. How did we do? What has changed in our lives? Easter is here, for sure, but it’s still a daily challenge for us to look into our hearts, our attitudes, and our actions to reform our lives in order to be more Christlike.
Second: rejoice. This Easter season is a time to rejoice. We can even rejoice while we’re reforming because we know Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. He sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us, and for this great gift, we rejoice. The Alleluia verse before our gospel says it all: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
Third: retell. What did Mary Magdalen do in our gospel today? Mary Magdalen, this one, singular woman who followed Christ unreservedly, was the first one trusted by Christ to spread the word that He had risen from the dead.
What did the Apostles do once Mary Magdalen told them that Jesus was alive? What do we do as disciples of Christ? All who encounter the living and loving Christ retell the story of the wonders the Lord has done in our lives. By our words and actions, we retell what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Reform, rejoice, retell…this is our privilege and our call. Alleluia, alleluia.
