The assurance that death is not the last word

 The Resurrection of the Lord –

The Mass of Easter Day

Hadd il-Ghid il-Kbir

       Il-Qawmien tal-Mulej mill-Imwiet                  

Tifkira Solenni ta’ l-Ikla tal-Mulej ( Hamis ix-Xirka                Missalin  B   p271

 

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-Ewwel Qari      mill-Atti ta’ l-Appostli 10, 34, 37-43

F’dak iz-zmien:  Pietru qabad jitkellem u qal: Intom tafu b’dak li gara mal-Lhudija kollha,  ibda’ mill-Galilija, wara li Gwanni xandar il-maghmudija: kif Alla ikkonsagra ‘l Gesu’ ta’ Nazaret  bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u bil-qawwa, u kif dan Gesu’ ghadda jaghmel il-gid u jfejjaq ‘il dawk kollha li kienu mahkuma mix-xitan,  ghax Alla kien mieghu. U ahna xiehda ta’ dan kollu li hu ghamel  fl-art tal-Lhudija,  u f’Gerusalem. Tawh il-mewt billi dendluh ma’ salib. imma Alla qajmu mill-imwiet fit-tielet jum  u ghamel li jidher, mhux lil kulhadd, imma lilna, bhala xiehda li Alla ghazilna minn qabel, ahna li mieghu kilna u xrobna wara li qam mill-imwiet. Lilna ordnalna biex inxandruh lill-poplu u  nixhdu li hu dak li gej maghmul minn Alla  imhallef tal-hajjin u tal-mejtin. Ghalih jaghtu xhieda l-profeti kollha: li kull min jemmen fih jaqla’ f’ismu l-mahfra 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 Responsorajali                     Salm 117

R/   Dan hu l-jum li ghamel il-Mulej; ha nifirhu u nithennew fih, Hallelujah.

Fahhru l-Mulej, ghaliex hu tajjeb,

Ghax it-tjieba ghall-dejjem!

Ha ighid Israel:

It-tjieba tieghu ghal dejjem!                             R/

Il-leminija tal-Mulej marret minn fuq,

il-leminija tal-Mulej ghamlet hwejjeg ta’ hila!

ma mmutx,  imma nghix,

u nhabbar l-eghmejjel tal-Mulej.                      R/

Il-gebla li warrbu l-bennejja

Saret il-gebla tax-xewka.

Bis-sahha tal-Mulej sehh dan:

Haga tal-ghageb f’ghajnejna.              R/ 

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   -      I 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.

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

Huti:  Jekk intom irxoxtajtu ma’ Kristu, fittxu l-hwejjeg tas-sema, fejn Kristu qieghed fuq il-lemin ta’ Alla. Ahsbu fil-hwejjeg tas-sema, mhux f’dawk ta’ l-art. Ghax intom mittu, imma hajjitkom hi  mohbija flimkien ma’ Kristu f’Alla. Meta jidher Kristu, li hu l-hajja taghkom,  imbaghad intom ukoll tidhru flimkien mieghu fis-sebh. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Jew        mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 5, 6-8

Huti:  Ma tafux li ftit hmira ttella’ l-ghagna kollha? Naddfu ‘l barra l-hmira l-qadima ha tkunu ghagna gdida,  kif intom bla hmira. Il-Haruf tal-Ghid taghna, li hu Kristu, hu maqtul. Naghmlu festa, mela, mhux bil-hmira l-qadima, anqas bil-hmira tal-qerq tal-hazen, imma bil-hobz bla hmira tas-safa u tas-sewwa. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Sequence:  Victimae 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

Ha jghollu l-insara b’tifhirhom

   il-Vittma tal-Ghid:

ghax feda l-Haruf in-nghag tieghu

   mill-jasar tal-mewt;

Gesu’ rega’ habbeb in-midneb

   Ma’ Alla l-Missier.

F’taqbida tal-ghageb mal-Hajja

   inqerdet il-Mewt;

u qam Sid il-hajja mill-qabar,

   isaltan rebbieh.

Ghidilna, Marija, habbrilna:

    Fit-triq ‘il min rajt?

“Jien rajt qabar Kristu li rxoxta

   fis-sebh tal-qawmien;

rajt l-Angli li gew jaghtu xhieda,

   il-faxxa, l-lizar.

Irxoxta mill-mewt Kristu Sidi,

   li fih ittamajt!

Mar hu l-Galilija qabilkom:

    hemmhekk se tarawh”.

Oh, nemmnu li llum Kristu rxoxta

     tassew mill-imwiet!

Int mela, Sultan, henn ghalina,

    O Kristu rebbieh.

   Amen!  Hallelujah!

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.

Or      LUKE 24, 13-35
That very day, the first day of the week,  two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,  Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them,  "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him,  "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning  and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were  saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted  what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread. This is the Word of the Lord.

         L-Evangelju    Qari skont San Gwann 20, 1-9

Kien l-ewwel jum tal-gimgha,  filghodu kmieni kif kien ghadu d-dlam, u Marjam  ta’ Magdala giet hdejn il-qabar u  rat il-blata mnehhija mill-qabar. Ghalhekk telqet tigri ghand Xmun Pietru u  ghand id-dixxiplu l-iehor il-mahbub ta’ Gesu’, u qaltilhom:  “Qalghu l-Mulej mill-qabar, u ma nafux fejn qeghduh.” Pietru u d-dixxiplu l-iehor hargu u gew hdejn il-qabar. It-tnejn grew flimkien, imma d-dixxiplu l-iehor haffef  aktar minn Pietru, u lahaq qablu hdejn il-qabar. Tbaxxa, u ra l-faxxex tal-ghazel miixhutin hemm, izda ma dahalx. Imbaghad wasal warajh Xmun Pietru, dahal fil-qabar, u ra l-faxex tal-ghazel mixhutin, u l-maktur li kien madwar rasu; dan ma kienx mal-faxex, imma mgezwer u  mixhut ghalih. Imbaghad id-dixxiplu l-iehor, li kien wasal l-ewwel hdejn il-qabar, dahal hu ukoll, ra, u emmen. Sa dak in-nhar kienu ghadhom ma fehmux l-Iskrittura li kienet tghid li kellu jqum mill-imwiet.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

 Jew     Luqa 24, 13-35

Dak in-nhar stess fl-ewwel jum tal-gimgha tnejn mid-dixxipli kienu sejrin lejn rahal jismu Ghemmaw,  sittin stadju ‘l boghod minn Gerusalem,  jithaddtu bejniehtom fuq kulma kien gara.   Huma u jithaddtu u jistaqsu ‘l xulxin,  Gesu’ nnifsu resaq lejhom u baqa’ miexi maghhom.   Imma ghajnejhom kellhom xi jzommhom u ma setghux jagharfuh. U hu qalilhom:  “Xintom tithadtu bejnietkom intom u mexjin?”  U huma waqfu, b’harsa ta’ niket fuqhom.  Imbaghad wiehed minnhom, jismu Kleofa, wiegeb u qallu:  “Int wahdek f’Gerusalem il-barrani li ma tafx x’gara hemmhekk f’dawn il-jiem?” “X’gara?”  staqsiehom.  Qalulu:  “Fuq Gesu’ ta’ Nazaret,   li kien profeta, setghan fil-eghmil u fil-kliem quddiem Alla u  quddiem il-poplu kollu, kif il-qassisin il-kbar u l-kapijiet taghna  tawh biex ikun ikkundanat ghall-mewt u sallbuh.  Ahna konna nittamaw lihu kien dak li kellu jifdi lil Israel;  izda mbaghad fuq kollox, ga ghaddew tlitt ijiem fuq din il-grajja!  Issa wkoll xi whud min-nisa taghna hasduna,  ghax marru kmieni hdejn il-qabar u l-gisem tieghu ma sabuh, u  gew ighidu wkoll li dehrulhom xi angli li qalulhom li hu haj.  Imbaghad marru hdejn il-qabar xi whud minn taghna u  sabu kollox kif kienu qalu n-nisa, imma lilu ma rawhx!” Imbaghad qalilhom Gesu’:  “Kemm intom bla ghaqal u mohhkom tqil biex  temmnu dak kollu li qalu l-profeti!   U ma kellux il-Messija jghiddi minn dawn il-hwejjeg u  hekk jidhol fil-glorja tieghu?” U beda minn Mose’ u l-profeti kollha ifissrilhom kull ma  kien hemm fuqu fl-Iskrittura. Meta qorbu hdejn ir-rahal fejn kienu sejrin,  hu ghamel tabirruhu li se jibqa’ sejjer ‘il boghod.  Izda huma riedu jzommuh u qalulu:  “Ibqa’ maghna, ghax issa sar hafna hin u l-jum ga wasal biex jispicca.”  Imbaghad dahal joqghod maghhom. U waqt likien fil-mejda maghhom, qabad il-hobz, qasmu u tahulhom.  Ghajnejhom imbaghad infethulhom u gharfuh, izda hu kien ghab minn quddiemhom.  U wiehed lill-iehor bdew ighidu:  “Ma kinetx imhegga qalbna gewwa fina waqt li kien qieghed ikellimna fit-triq u jfissrilna l-Iskrittura?” Dak il-hin stess qamu u regghu lura Gerusalem.  Hemm sabu l-Hdax u ‘l shabhom migburin flimkien,  u dawn qalulhom:  “Il-Mulej qam tassew, u deher lil Xmun!” U huma wkoll tarrfulhom x’kien gralhom fit-triq u kif gharfuh fil-qsim tal-hobz. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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The Silence and Courage of the Resurrection Witnesses

Commentary for Easter Sunday by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

Easter is the promise that death will visit each of us. But more important, it is the assurance that death is not the last word. The Resurrection of Jesus prompts us to recall, from the darkest moments of grief to life's smallest trials, how much God comforts us and gives us the strength to persevere. The Easter mysteries give us a new identity and a new name: we are saved, redeemed, renewed; we are Christian, and we have no more need for fear or despair.

Through the powerful Scripture readings of the Triduum, and especially the Gospels of the Easter Vigil and Easter morning, we catch glimpses of just what resurrection means. How can we give expression to the conquest of death and the harrowing of hell? We must honestly admit to ourselves that there are no words. Therefore we turn to the experiences of the women at the tomb in Mark's Resurrection account and to Mary Magdalene, witness of the Risen Lord, to find images and words to describe what has happened.

The Silence of the Women

Mark's Gospel text for the Easter Vigil [16:1-8] leaves us more than perplexed. We read that after discovering Jesus' tomb to be open and empty and hearing the angelic message about the resurrection and a future meeting with him in Galilee, the women "went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

Is it possible that Mark's Gospel can really end with 16:8? Early Christian editors, puzzled by such a shocking ending, supplied two more conventional endings for the Gospel; the longer of these is printed in most bibles as Mark 16:9-20. Nevertheless, the question lingers: What can we say about a resurrection story in which the risen Jesus, himself never appears? How could Mark differ so much from Luke's masterful resurrection chapter [24] or John's highly developed portraits of the first witnesses of the resurrection [20-21]?

Rather than dismiss the strangeness of Mark's ending, let us reflect carefully on what Mark's Gospel offers us. First of all, we never see the Risen Jesus, himself. We are offered instead a rather haunting scene. It early morning, still dark, and the women arrive at the tomb for a near impossible task. The tomb is already opened and they are greeted by someone from heaven who commissions them: "Go and tell his disciples and Peter that he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him as he told you." [16:7]

The fear and trembling that accompanies the women prevents them from telling anyone about what they have seen. Of what are they afraid? By remaining silent, are they disobeying the message of the angel to "Go and tell…?" What are we to make of the silence of the women?

Mark's resurrection story contains an initial declaration and summary statement of all of Jesus' teaching in the Gospel: "Do not be alarmed!" [16:6]. The reader is told to abandon every fear. Second, the reader is told: "you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him" [16:6].

The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was not the final, definitive moment of his life. As Christians, our faith is not placed in a crucified, dead man, nor in an empty tomb, but in a risen, living Lord who lives among us with a whole new type of presence. "He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you" [16:7]. The message of the resurrection in Mark's Gospel is given to us. The event is simply too great to be presented with meager words!

Mark's resurrection account is constructed to unsettle us–to undo the ease that makes us forget that the call to discipleship is the call to the cross.  Throughout the entire Gospel, we are invited to view our lives in the shadow of the cross.

The women go to the tomb, drawn unconsciously by the powerful and enticing mystery of God about to be revealed to them. They flee from the tomb [16:8] shocked by the awesome message of Jesus' resurrection. Faced with this rather incredible news of the resurrection of the crucified Jesus, the silent and fearful flight of the women is not only understandable but also highly appropriate.

Is it not also the same for you and for me? When faced with the awesome power of God at work in our lives, raising those dead parts back to life and restoring our dashed hopes and crushed spirits, a response of silence and fear, wonder and awe, is also understandable and at times appropriate –even for us.

The Witness of Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus), and the unnamed penitent woman who anointed Jesus' feet (Luke 7:36-48) are sometimes understood to be the same woman. From this, plus the statement that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2), has risen the tradition that Mary Magdalene had been a prostitute before she met Jesus. But in reality we know nothing about her sins or weaknesses. They could have been inexplicable physical disease, mental illness, or anything that prevented her from wholeness in mind and body.

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels as being among the women of Galilee who followed Jesus and His disciples, ministered to him, and who, according to each of the evangelists, was present at His crucifixion and burial, and went to the tomb on Easter Sunday to anoint His body.

Jesus lived in an androcentric society. Women were property, first of their fathers, then of their husbands; they did not have the right to testify; they could not study the Torah. In this restricting atmosphere, Jesus acted without animosity, accepting women, honoring them, respecting them, and treasuring their friendship. He journeyed with them, touched and cured them, loved them and allowed them to love him.

In our Easter Sunday Gospel [John 20 :1-18], we peer once again into the early morning scene of sadness as Mary Magdalene weeps uncontrollably at the grave of her friend, Jesus. We hear anew their conversation: "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" "…Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means, Teacher). ... "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. (John 20:15-18)

Because of her incredible message and mission, Mary Magdalene was fittingly called "Apostola Apostolorum" (Apostle to the Apostles) in the early Church because she was the first to see the Risen Lord, and to announce His Resurrection to the other apostles.

For Jesus, women were equally as able as men to penetrate the great religious truths, live them and announce them to others. There is no secret code about this story, which is still astonishingly good news more than 2,000 years later. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!