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Are we so overcome with grief for our sins or the loss of Jesus in our lives that we fail to recognize His presence? That we do not allow Him to heal us, to touch us? Do we keep on telling Him all our sorrows and problems we face in our lives that we forget to listen to Him who gives us comfort and counsel?

Do we place physical attachments to Jesus? Have we forgotten in some instances that sacramentals are merely physical objects conveying His Grace, His divine mercy? Do we not instead grow in our faith and holiness so His Grace can work in us, through us?

Let us pray…..

O Lord our God, you walk in our midst as you walked in the garden of Eden in the cool of the evening. Have mercy on us who fail to see and know you now as Mary failed to know you in the garden beside the tomb. Awaken our faith to see you and our love to serve you with rejoicing, who live and reign with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL John 20:11–18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

How many of us witness to the glory of God and filled with joy will move swiftly to share the Good news at the very first opportunity? Or do we keep it to ourselves? Do let doubt cripple us? Do we let the devil take His word away from us?

When we move to bring Jesus to others He meets us along the way and whether we realise it or not He is with us every step of the way. Do we welcome Him in our hearts? Do we honour and revere Him by our words, actions, dress, demeanor? Do we put aside personal comforts to be with Him and our brethren?

Do we always live in the truth? Or do we distort it to suit ourselves? Do we distort it for others? Do we lie out of fear? Do we lie out of greed?

Because He lives, we have tomorrow. A new life in Him, with Him. Let us strive onwards in truth…. Amen

GOSPEL Matthew 28:8–15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news 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.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.