Easter Sunday (The Resurrection of the Lord)
Readings at Mass
First reading — Acts 10:34, 37–43
‘We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection’
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household:
‘You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.’
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 117(118):1–2, 16–17, 22–23
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
Second reading — Colossians 3:1–4
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
Sequence — Victimae Paschali Laudes
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended:
combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain,
yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary:
say what thou didst see
upon the way.
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen:
he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen
from the dead we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!
Gospel — John 20:1–9
He must rise from the dead
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Reflection
First Reading — Acts 10
Peter speaks as a witness, not a theorist.
“We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.”
This is the foundation of everything. The Resurrection is not an idea passed down — it is an encounter lived. The apostles testify to a Christ who was truly dead and is now truly alive.
The Catechism affirms that the apostles are chosen witnesses of the Resurrection, and their testimony forms the basis of the Church’s proclamation (CCC 641–642).
And their message carries power:
“All who believe in him will have their sins forgiven.”
The Resurrection is not only about life after death — it is about the forgiveness of sin and restoration of relationship with God (CCC 654).
Gospel — John 20
The Gospel begins in darkness — before understanding, before clarity.
Mary sees the stone removed, but does not yet grasp what it means. The disciples run, searching for explanation.
Inside the tomb, everything is ordered — not chaotic. The linen cloths are left behind. Death has been left behind.
Then comes the moment:
“He saw and he believed.”
Belief begins before full understanding.
The Gospel is honest:
“They had failed to understand… that he must rise from the dead.”
Faith often begins exactly here — in the gap between what we see and what we fully comprehend.
The Catechism teaches that the empty tomb is a sign that leads to faith, pointing beyond itself to the reality of the Resurrection (CCC 640). This event is both historical and transcendent — breaking into human history while opening it to divine life (CCC 647).
And the word “must” is crucial.
Christ must rise.
Because death cannot hold the one who is life itself.
One line to carry today:
He saw and he believed — even before he fully understood.
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