DAILY- HOMILY

April 7, 2015 TUESDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF EASTER           

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Acts 2: 36 – 41 / Jn 20:11 - 18

Reading: Acts 2: 36 – 41

     Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."

     When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"

     Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call."

     With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.

Gospel: Jn 20:11-18

     Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside;  she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet. They said, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have put him."  

     As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and answered him, "Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him." 

     Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni" – which means, Master.  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God." So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me." 

Reflection:

     The Gospel speaks of Mary of Magdala  "holding onto" the Lord even after he was entombed. After suffering a recent loss, this suddenly takes on a more personal meaning.  We have all lost someone near and dear to our heart: a parent, sibling, a much beloved grandparent or just someone very dear to us. With a death that hits too close to home, it is often difficult to let our loved ones go, much like Mary of Magdala, when she kept looking for the Lord's mortal remains when they visited his empty tomb. 

     And just like Mary of Magdala, the Lord asked her to let him go, so that he might ascend to his Father, our God.  Just like her, he asks us to let our loved ones go so that they too may go to the Father.  

     That is the gist of the Gospel reading; let the spirit of our loved ones go so that they may proceed untethered by all that may hold them back from the Father, our Maker. But letting go is so much easier said than done.  So what would make letting go easier for you? Does knowing that the Lord is there to guide your loved one "home" not enough for you? What would give you comfort enough to set them free?

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     ANDREA DOMINIQUE YU

     J. ROMAN R. MARIN

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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