Easter

Easter is the greatest feast of the Church’s year. It celebrates that Jesus, who died on the cross, rose from the dead. The Church teaches that the Resurrection is the crowning truth of our faith, and she calls Easter the feast of feasts. It begins on Holy Saturday night, at the Easter Vigil: the church is dark, a new fire is lit, and the big paschal candle comes in, spreading its light from candle to candle. Then the Gloria is sung, the bells ring, and the Alleluia, which the Church put away for Lent, returns. Easter does not last one day: it goes on for fifty days.

The saint who teaches today is Mary Magdalene, a woman from Magdala whom Jesus healed, and who became one of his faithful followers. She stayed by the cross when many ran away. On Sunday morning, while it was still dark, she went to the tomb. The stone had been moved and the tomb was empty. Mary was heartbroken, and she cried, because she thought someone had taken the body of the Lord.

A man she did not recognize asked why she was crying and whom she was looking for. She thought he was the gardener and asked him where they had taken Jesus. Then he said her name, just one word: Mary. And she knew him. It was Jesus, alive! He sent her to tell his brothers, and she went to find them. The Church teaches that Mary Magdalene and the women were the first to meet the risen Jesus, and she is called the apostle to the apostles, the one sent to the ones who were sent.

That is what Easter means: Jesus is truly alive, raised to a new life that never ends, and death does not have the last word. It is why Christians are people of hope. Families celebrate in many ways: sunrise Mass, flowers, a big meal, and eggs, a family sign of new life. Mary’s news is still the news of Easter. This is what she told the disciples: