The Resurrection of the Lord 

The Mass of Easter Day 

L-Għid  il-Kbir tal-Qawmien tal-Mulej mill-Imwiet  -

Solennita' – Quddies tal-Jum

Reading 1                         ACTS 10:34A, 37-43

Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea,  beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil,  for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwek Qari   -   mill-Atti ta’ l-Appostli 10, 34a, 37-43

F’dak iż-żmien, Pietru qabad jitkellem u qal:  “Intom tafu b’dak li ġara mal-Lhudija kollha, ibda mill-Galilija,  wara li Ġwanni xandar il-magħmudija; kif Alla kkonsagra  lil Ġesù ta’ Nażaret bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u bil-qawwa, u kif   dan Ġesù għadda jagħmel il-ġid u jfejjaq ’il dawk kollha li  kienu maħkuma mix-xitan, għax Alla kien miegħu.  U aħna xhud  ta’ dak kollu li hu għamel fl-art tal-Lhudija u f’Ġerusalemm.   Tawh  il-mewt billi dendluh mal-għuds tas-salib;   imma Alla qajmu mill-imwiet fit-tielet jum u għamel li  hu jidher, mhux lil kulħadd, imma li xhieda li Alla għażel  minn qabel lilna, li miegħu kilna u xrobna wara li qawmien  tiegħu mill-imwiet.  Lilna ordnalna biex inxandruh lill-poplu u nixhdu li dan  hu dak li Alla għamlu mħallef tal-ħajjin u tal-mejtin.  Il-profeti kollha jixhdu għalih u jgħidu li kull min jemmen fih jaqla’ l-maħfra tad-dnubiet.   Il-Kelma  tal-Mulej.

………………………………

Responsorial Psalm                   PSALM 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R. (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.     or:      R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.                                      R/

“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.”                      R/

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.                                          R/

Salm Responsorjali                                    Salm  117

  R/    Dan hu l-jum li għamel il-Mulej:  ħa nifirħu u nithennew fih. Hallelujah.

Faħħru l-Mulej, għaliex hu tajjeb,
għax għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu!
Ħa jgħid wlied Israel:
"Għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu!"                                 R/

Il-leminija tal-Mulej 'il fuq merfugħa,
il-leminija tal-Mulej għamlet ħwejjeġ ta’ ħila!
Ma mmutx, imma nibqa' ngħix,
u nħabbar l-għemejjel tal-Mulej.                            R/

Il-ġebla  li warrbu l-bennejja
saret il-ġebla tax-xewka.
Bis-saħħa tal-Mulej seħħ dan:
ħaġa tal-għaġeb f’għajnejna.                                     R/

……………………….

For the Second Reading the celebrant may choose one of the following:

Reading 2                                         COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

Brothers and sisters:  If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,  where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.  This is the Word of The Lord.

Or                     1 CORinthians 5:6B-8

Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough,  inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,  not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,  but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. .  This is the Word of The Lord.

………………………………
Għat-Tieni Qari tingħażel silta mit-tnejn li ġejjin.

It-Tieni Qari  -   mill-Ittra lill-Kolossin 3, 1-4

Ħuti, jekk intom irxoxtajtu ma’ Kristu, fittxu l-ħwejjeġ tas-sema, fejn Kristu qiegħed fuq il-lemin ta’ Alla.   Aħsbu  fil-ħwejjeġ tas-sema, mhux f’dawk ta’ l-art.Għax  intom mittu, imma ħajjitkom hi moħbija flimkien ma’ Kristu f’Alla.   Meta  jidher Kristu, li hu l-ħajja tagħkom, imbagħad intom ukoll tidhru flimkien miegħu fil-glorja.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

jew:

Qari  mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 5, 6b-8

Ħuti,  ma  tafux li ftit ħmira ttalla’ l-għaġna kollha?  Tnaddfu mill-ħmira l-qadima ħalli tkunu għaġna ġdida, kif intom bla ħmira.  Il-Ħaruf  tal-Għid tagħna, li hu Kristu, hu maqtul!  Nagħmlu   festa,  mhux bil-ħmira l-qadima, anqas bil-ħmira tal-qerq u tal-ħażen, imma bil-ħobż bla ħmira tas-safa u tas-sewwa. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SEQUENCE - Victimæ Paschali Laudes
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.

SEKWENZA - Victimæ Paschali Laudes
Ħa jgħollu l-insara b’tifħirhom il-Vittma tal-Għid: għax feda l-Ħaruf in-ngħaġ tiegħu mill-jasar tal-mewt; Ġesù reġa’ ħabbeb il-midneb ma’ Alla l-Missier.  F’taqbida tal-għaġeb mal-Ħajja 

inqerdet il-Mewt;
isaltan rebbieħ.
fit-triq  lil min rajt?
fis-sebħ tal-qawmien;
rajt l-Anġli li ġew jagħtu xhieda, 
il-faxxa, l-liżar.
Irxoxta mill-mewt Kristu Sidi,
li fih ittamajt!
Mar hu l-Galilija qabilkom:
hemmhekk se tarawh.”
tassew mill-imwiet!
Int  mela, Sultan, ħenn għalina, 
O Kristu rebbieħ.
Amen! Hallelujah!

u qam Sid il-ħajja mill-qabar,

Għidilna, Marija, ħabbrilna:

“Jien rajt qabar Kristu li rxoxta

O, nemmnu li llum Kristu rxoxta 

Gospel                                                JohN 20:1-9

On the first day of the week,  Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark,   and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter  and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,  “They have taken the Lord from the tomb,  and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter  and arrived at the tomb first;  he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him,  he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,  and the cloth that had covered his head,  not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in,  the one who had arrived at the tomb first,  and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture  that he had to rise from the dead.  .  This is the Word of The Lord.

Options:

Gospel Reading according to Mark 16, 1-7

In the evening celebration of the day, the Reading can also be

the Gospel according to Luke 24, 13-35

L-EVANĠELJU  -  skond San Ġwann 20, 1-9

Kien  l-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa, filgħodu kmieni kif kien għadu  d-dlam,  u Marjam ta’ Magdala ġiet ħdejn il-qabar u rat il-blata  mneħħija mill-qabar.  Għalhekk telqet tiġri għand  Xmun Pietru u għand id-dixxiplu  l-ieħor li kien iħobb Ġesù, u qaltilhom: “Qalgħu l-Mulej mill-qabar,  u ma nafux fejn qegħduh.” Pietru  u d-dixxiplu l-ieħor ħarġu u ġew ħdejn il-qabar.  It-tnejn  ġrew flimkien, imma d-dixxiplu l-ieħor ħaffef  aktar minn Pietru,  u laħaq qablu ħdejn il-qabar.  Tbaxxa,  u ra l-faxex tal-għażel  imqiegħda hemm, iżda ma daħalx.  Imbagħad  wasal warajh  Xmun Pietru, daħal fil-qabar, u ra l-faxex tal-għażel imqiegħda  hemm, u l-maktur li kien madwar rasu; dan ma kienx mal-faxex,  imma mitwi u mqiegħed f'post għalih. Imbagħad id-dixxiplu l-ieħor, li kien wasal l-ewwel ħdejn il-qabar,  daħal hu wkoll, ra, u emmen.  Sa dak in-nhar kienu għadhom ma  fehmux l-Iskrittura li kienet tgħid li kellu jqum mill-imwiet. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

Jew

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark 16, 1-7

Fil-Quddiesa ta’ filgħaxija tal-jum jista’ jinqara

 l-Evanġelju skont San Luqa 24, 13-35

///////////////////////////////////

COMMENTARY........

The Empty Tomb

 A reflection on this Easter Sunday’s Readings - by  Larry Broding,  Catholic Lectionary Resources.

Have you ever seen something so unusual that the experience made you pause? Did you jump to a conclusion? What happened?

While I have lived in California for the past 40 years, I was born in Missouri, the "Show Me" state. I tend to have a skeptical streak. If I see something unbelievable, I don't believe it.  Yet, there are events and experiences that have stopped me in my tracks. And have challenged my skepticism. Many times these events and experiences have deepened my faith life. The only explanation I can give them is "God."

One woman had such an experience. She told two others who saw what she saw. Only one of these witnesses saw God's hand in the experience. The empty tomb proved a transcendent event.

The time frame and the initial audience for encounter with the tomb was different in John. In the Synoptic gospels, a group of women (including the Magdalene) reached the tomb just at or after sunrise. But, in John, Mary Magdalene arrived alone before dawn. Unlike the other scenes, Mary ran to Peter and the other disciple (18:15) whom Jesus loved (13:23 and 19:26). They returned and inspected the tomb before Mary saw the angels (20:11-13). John placed the arrival of Peter and the other disciple to heighten the importance of the empty tomb. For John, this took precedent over the vision of angelic messengers.

Why was the empty tomb so important? Part of the answer could have been polemical. The audience of John had been ejected from the synagogues throughout the empire and had endured prejudice by the Jewish population. One of the attacks on John's audience could have been a challenge to veracity. "Did your Jesus really rise from the dead?" Jewish critics could have exclaimed "Prove it!"

Witness to the empty tomb during burial rites would have supported Christian claims for their Lord. Especially within a tradition that prized the service of those who cared for the dead, despite the fact that such care made one "unclean." Preparing the body for burial was a cultural privilege and duty that ranked with care for the widows and orphans. Caring for the dead elevated one's reputation. The discovery of the empty tomb took place in the context of a charitable act. This alone cast the scepter of shame on those who publically criticized Christians.

But John added another twist. There were two male witnesses to the event (which, in an ancient Jewish court of law, verified the fact of the case). With two male witnesses to the empty tomb, the onus was back upon the critic. The Christian could claim, "We know the body from a sealed tomb was missing." It would have been only a small leap of faith to conclude the Lord had truly risen! The vision of the angels to a woman and the appearance of a dead man to his followers could not be so easily dismissed as the signs of lunacy or a mass hallucination.

Yet, only the disciple whom the Lord loved believed (i.e., made the connection between the empty tomb and the Lord's resurrection). After all, Mary Magdalene saw grave robbers as the most likely suspects for the missing body (yet, why would anyone rob the grave of a poor, traveling preacher?) The key to understanding the other disciple's faith is the phrase "the one Jesus loved." In John's gospel, Jesus revealed himself to those he loved. After the resurrection, the "other disciple" (unwavering in faith at the foot of the cross) was the first to understand, then Mary Magdalene (20:14-17), next the other disciples and Thomas (20:19-29), and finally, Peter by name (21:1-23). Those who fully believed in the time of testing were those who said "yes' to the Lord and who understood the full impact of the empty tomb. Those who abandoned the Lord in his hour were the last to come to faith. The Lord loved all who followed him completely. But who received that love and acted upon it? The one who grasped the import of the tomb without a body.

Have you ever seen God's hand in the unusual? What was it? How did you know God was responsible for the event?

The scene of the empty tomb and two reactions: skepticism (Mary Magdalene) and faith (the beloved disciple). Many experiences in life present us with the same options. Was it the activity of the evil? Or, was it the hand of God? Like St. Paul insisted, these experiences need to be tested. But we should not draw hasty conclusions. Instead, we should look to the source of the experience and its "aftershocks." Does good come from the experience or more evil? And if good does result, was God its ultimate cause?

After all, how did you know that the death of Jesus was the will of God? Look to the empty tomb. You will see the Resurrection!

On this glorious day, look at the experiences and events of the past weeks. Thank God for the good and the bad. Allow that reflection and prayer to lead you to the joy of the Resurrection.