Easter Vigil and Sunday morning

By Msgr Michael de Verteuil

Chair, Liturgical Commission

The Gospels for the Easter Vigil (Mt 28:1–10) and Easter Sunday morning (Jn 20:1 –9) deal with the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary of Magdala “and the other Mary” (the vigil reading), then Peter and “the other disciple, the one Jesus loved” (the Sunday morning reading).

Both take place in the morning, “towards dawn” or “very early”. This timing is to be noted, for physical light is about to come into the world with the rising of the sun but there is another light about to dawn — the women and men will be enlightened by the light of the Resurrection. Now they will not only see with their physical eyesight but have the eyes of faith, “…he saw and he believed” (Jn 20:8).

The Resurrection must not just be something that happened 2000 years ago but an event that is alive in us today. We can imagine how the lives of the two Marys and the two men must have changed from that moment of revelation. Everything would be affected by the fact that He has risen from the dead.

Does the fact of the Resurrection affect your life? Jesus’ resurrection means that death is vanquished, that my trials will have an end as will wars, division and hate, sin and sadness, corruption, and greed; all the ways evil seeks to bring death and suffering have no lasting power.

Life has conquered death!

Love has conquered hate!

Goodness has conquered evil!

And whose side are you on?