Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection-Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

“Mary Magdalene…ran and went to Simon Peter…Peter and the other disciple…both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.”

Happy Easter! Welcome to St. Ed’s!

Did any of you run to church this morning? Excited children often run. I remember when my son went to Easter egg hunts when he was young – he ran from one place to another trying to collect as many eggs as he could. The most exciting times in sporting events are when players, horses, or greyhounds are running to defeat their competition. Running is an integral part of the Gospel that we read on Easter Sunday. Mary Magdalene runs from the tomb to the apostles, the apostles run back to the tomb, and John outruns Peter.

Mary went to the tomb with a simple desire: anoint the body of Jesus and shed a few tears of sadness and loss. When Mary saw the empty tomb, her first reaction was to think that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. Mary’s deep love for the Lord creates a sense of urgency. So, she feels the need to run to the apostles to tell them the life-changing news: the tomb was empty. Now it is Peter and John who have a sense of urgency. It is their turn to run back to the tomb to see why Mary is so concerned.

At that point, neither Peter, nor John, nor Mary nor the other women are certain about anything. Yet, the events of that morning caused all three to move from unbelief to confused thoughts of “maybe, just maybe,” to the grand statement from “the other disciple” who saw and believed that something amazing had happened. This is the point of faith – believing even when we are a little confused or uncertain; even when there is absolutely no proof; even when there are many doubts and unanswered questions.

Unlike Mary, Peter and John, we are not arriving at an empty tomb in a confused state. We are coming to a full church! Christ is not “missing.” He is PRESENT in the assembly, in the Word, and in the Eucharist. Just as it was for Mary, Peter, and John, this is life-changing!

If we did not run to church today, we probably should have! May the glory of the risen Lord deeply touch your lives! Happy Easter!

Fr. Mike