Tuesday, Octave of Easter: I have seen the Lord!

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 For eight days the Church celebrates the Octave of Easter. This makes the Easter solemnity (the most important of feasts of the Church year are solemnities) an eight day celebration, from Sunday to Sunday. Today's Gospel tells the story of Mary Magdalen's encounter with the Risen Jesus. She runs to Him and hugs Him. This is not just a spiritual experience; He is truly risen in His glorified body. Mary has been looking for Jesus in a tomb, among the dead. But Jesus is risen and among the living. This is the Easter Jesus we believe in. He is risen in the flesh and among us in the power of His Spirit.

There is a longstanding tradition that Mary Magdalen, her sister Martha and brother were expelled from Palestine after Jesus' resurrection, set adrift in a boat on the open seas, landing in France. There, they witnessed to the Risen Jesus, establishing communities of believers in various parts of the country.*

Nothing can stop the power of the Risen Christ when we have yielded our hearts to His Spirit in our lives, as Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Peter and the Apostles and countless others have witnessed throughout the centuries. The entire western civilization and its cultures have been shaped by this witness. The trials and difficulties of this age cannot defeat the Good News!

Happy Easter.

Link to today's readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041922.cfm

* See: http://www.magdalenepublishing.org/about/


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