Faith Daily | 5 April 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER

Almighty God,

you have conquered death

through your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ

and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:

grant us by your grace to set our mind on things above,

so that by your continual help

our whole life may be transformed;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

in everlasting glory.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 28: 8-15

8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12After the priests* had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13telling them, ‘You must say, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” 14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Peter Brady

In this passage from the last chapter of St Matthew's gospel we have two different descriptions of what happened immediately after the resurrection. The two Marys are rewarded for their faith with the joy of seeing the Risen Lord. The religious authorities, on the other hand, cannot bring themselves to admit they were wrong and harden their hearts even more and concoct a story to explain the disappearance of Jesus' body.

Let us then be like the Marys, leaving the tomb with joy, accept the mission he has given us and 'go to Galilee' and care for the living rather than the chief priests who cannot accept the truth of the resurrection because it disrupts their world view.

FINAL PRAYER: from Psalm 62:

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from Him.

Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honour depend on God;

He is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

Amen