Homily of the Day

Friday in the Octave of Easter

The resurrection of Jesus did not happen in a spectacular way in the presence of the multitude. The resurrection happened quietly while the people were still asleep in the early dawn with no human present near his tomb, except for the guards posted outside by the High priests to ensure that his disciples would not steal his body and claim that he had risen. The disciples only saw an empty tomb. Mary Magdalene thought the empty tomb meant that the Jews had taken the body of Jesus.

Immediately after his resurrection, Jesus first appeared only to Mary Magdalene and his disciples, people who already believed in him and hoped for his resurrection as he promised them. Even in his appearances before Mary Magdalene and his disciples, they did not immediately recognize him. Thomas even demanded that he must first show the wounds in his hands and feet and in his side before he would believe. We are blessed because as Jesus told Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

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