When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”
Mark 16:1-7
Reflection Prayer
Praise Jesus, our Almighty Father! Our Savior has indeed saved the world and all those who love Him! He conquered death and sin and rose to new life!
Jesus, Your story is one of love-love in joy, love in suffering, love in every aspect of daily life. You lived Your life fully and died with pure love in Your Heart. What joy must You have been feeling when the women came to look for Your lifeless body to anoint You, but You had risen just as You had foretold.
Jesus, as we contemplate Your Passion, the pain You endured, and Your suffering caused by our sins and those of the whole world, we know Your Heart was filled with joy at this point, for You had fulfilled Your mission on earth and would soon give Your disciples what they needed to continue bringing hearts and souls to You. We, too, rejoice as we contemplate Your resurrection, how You defeated sin and death and rose to eternal life so that we may have eternal life too. You showed us death is not the end-it is just the beginning of eternal joy with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, forever, in heaven.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, may my heart sing with praise and adoration for the gift of You and Your life, Your teaching, Your example, Your healing, Your love, and Your peace that extends to the farthest reaches of the earth. May my heart shout with joy to the hearts who know You not, to the hearts that desire You but are afraid and deny You, to the hearts that know You and desire to know You even more.
Lord, You showed me throughout the way of the cross how to endure suffering, how to not fear death but how to embrace it willingly, how to give all to You as You gave all of Yourself to Your Father, so I can one day be laid in my own tomb, only to then live forever with You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit in heaven for eternity.
*Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition.