The First Glorious Mystery:
The Resurrection

“[A]n angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it… The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Mt 28:1, 4-6).

“After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, ‘Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, he has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Behold, I have told you.’ Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me’” (Mt 28:1-10).

“Here is the good news! [The] Risen Jesus is the authentic ‘Gospel of life.’ He communicates divine life to man, the dignity of a child of God. From the apostles we have received this good news, which we must bring ‘to the heart of every man and woman’ by placing it ‘in the innermost folds of the whole society’” (St. John Paul II). The victory is certain, and the resurrection is the proof of every promise Christ made! Shake off your fear and anxiety, and embrace the abundant joy and new life won through Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection!

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

“Faith in the Resurrection has as its object an event which is historically attested to by the disciples, who really encountered the Risen One. At the same time, this event is mysteriously transcendent insofar as it is the entry of Christ’s humanity into the glory of God. The empty tomb and the linen cloths lying there signify in themselves that by God’s power Christ’s body had escaped the bonds of death and corruption. They prepared the disciples to encounter the Risen Lord. Christ, ‘the first-born from the dead’ (Col 1:18), is the principle of our own resurrection, even now by the justification of our souls, and one day by the new life he will impart to our bodies” (CCC 656-658).

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Jesus Christ rose from the grave, overcame sin and death, and offered us a share in his glorious Resurrection. The Son of Mary has crushed the head of the serpent. Satan did not have the last say. The Roman torturers and murderers did not have the last say. The proud religious leaders did not have the last say. Though, perhaps, they did have the last say for their own cold, stony hearts, for they refused to acknowledge the boundless love of Christ, all the miracles of Christ, and now even the resurrection of Christ. Let us make sure we allow ourselves to be transformed by the resurrection. Let us tirelessly pray for those who desperately hide both Christ and his good news.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

The Resurrection is the foundation of our faith. It is the Father’s stamp of approval and verification of everything Jesus said and did. The Resurrection proves Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of the living God!

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We who follow in Christ’s footsteps, carrying our own cross and offering our lives to him and others in sacrifice, will be raised as he was raised, with a glorious and eternal body.

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We are called to be children of God through Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin and death in our place as one of us. Through him and in him, we become children of God.