Monday in the Octave of Easter
We Are Easter witnesses
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Introduction
Peter had refused to say that he knew Jesus. Now, he cannot stop proclaiming that Jesus is risen. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, rush to tell the apostles that Jesus is risen. The readings of today are all about witnessing to the resurrection. Peter proclaims it as the key to his faith: Jesus who had been killed is truly risen and we, his disciples, are witnesses to this fact and this person. Mary Magdalene and her companion are told by the angels at the tomb that Jesus is risen. Then, they themselves encountered him. The Risen Jesus instructed them to convey this news to his other disciples. For now, they too, are witnesses that Christ is alive. We are these witnesses today.
Opening Prayer
Our living God,
our heart is glad and rejoices
and we feel secure in our faith,
that we have a living person to believe in,
Jesus Christ, who is risen from the dead.
Let him show us the path of life,
let us live in the joy of his presence
and give us the grace to make us witnesses,
so that we can proclaim with our whole life,
that Jesus is our risen, living Lord,
now and forever.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sequence-- optional
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
In fear yet with great joy, the women left the tomb and ran to tell the news to his disciples.
He Appears to the Women
Suddenly, Jesus met them on the road and said:
Rejoice!”
The women approached him, bowed down at his feet, and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them:
Do not be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Report of the Guards
As the women continued on their way, some of the guards entered the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had taken place.
The chief priests gathered with the elders and decided to pay the soldiers a large sum of money
with this instruction:
“Say that his disciples came by night while you were asleep and stole the body of Jesus.
If Pilate finds out about this, we will explain the situation and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were told. This story has circulated among the Jews to this day.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For all the newly-baptized, that they may keep growing nearer to the risen Lord, we pray:
– For the missionaries, that they may proclaim to all those who are willing to listen that Jesus is the Risen Lord, who raises us above our selfishness and limitations, we pray:
– For all of us, that we may be joyful people, firm in our faith, because we have a Lord who has overcome evil and death, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God,
it is a real joy for us
that your Son, Jesus, has invited us
to sit at table with him.
Let him again break for us
the bread of himself
and let him make us a people of joy and hope,
who live close to Jesus
and close to our brothers and sisters,
as we are bound together
by the life and love of Jesus Christ,
our risen Lord, now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God,
your Son Jesus, has spoken to us
his Word of greeting that takes away our fears
and that fills us with joy.
He has nourished us at his table
with the warmth of his loving presence.
Give us now the inspiration
to let our whole life bear witness to him,
to say that we believe in his message of hope
and that he is the center and meaning of our life.
For he is Jesus, our living Lord,
now and for ever.
Blessing
Do not be afraid. Tell your brothers and sisters that the Lord is risen and alive. Let him also be alive in our communities, in our joy, in our faith, in our readiness to serve and love. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Truth vs Lie
An extraordinary event has happened, which makes it impossible to keep silent. The out-of-the-world event of the Resurrection triggers two kinds of responses: a passion to spread the news about it to everyone around, as the women in the story does, and even to the ends of the earth, as the apostles would do later. The other response, which is more of a reaction, is to suppress the truth, falsify it, and even kill it. Even when the fabricated lie of the stealing of the body of Jesus by the disciples has survived even to this day, the truth of the Resurrection has unleashed the reign of the Spirit that no lies can stop. How do I respond to the truth of the Resurrection—by affirming and claiming it or by falsifying and rejecting it? Or, still worse, by being indifferent to it?
Reflection is taken from Bible Diary 2022; written by Fr. Paulson Velyannoor, CMF
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Matthew 28:8-15
Do not be afraid
The Easter Octave is like one continuous day, extending the joy of the Resurrection. Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ appearance to the women at the tomb (Mt 28:8-15). He greets them and offers two messages—gifts we should embrace.
First, He says, “Do not be afraid.” Fear is a daily adversary rooted in our deepest dread—death itself. We fear loss, illness, and uncertainty. But Jesus, having conquered death, tells us convincingly, “Do not be afraid.” He calls us to leave the tombs of our fears, where we often bury ourselves. Fear lingers in our hearts, yet Easter morning reminds us: Take courage. Jesus assures us, “I have suffered for you, and I am with you forever. Do not be afraid!”
How do we overcome fear? Jesus gives the answer: “Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee; there they will see me”. Fear isolates us, but Jesus sends us out to share the Good News. The women were not the most prepared to proclaim the Resurrection, yet Jesus entrusted them with the message. Joy grows when shared. If we spread the Gospel, our hearts will open, and fear will fade.
However, the Gospel also warns of opposition. The soldiers at the tomb were bribed to spread falsehoods. This deception, fuelled by money, stands against the truth. Falsehood corrupts, leading back to the tomb, while the Risen Christ calls us into light and life.
Let us reject the darkness of deception and bring our own hidden falsehoods before the light of Christ. May Mary, Mother of the Risen Lord, help us overcome fear and embrace truth, becoming radiant witnesses to the Gospel’s joy.