Being a witness to the Resurrection of Jesus 

This weekend culminates with the most joyous of celebrations on Easter Sunday when we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus and begin a 50 day period when the early church was called to be radical witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus. This was a time of confusion, concern and courage. Some of Jesus’ friends went into hiding, some became deniers of his new life, while others dared to love generously and respond in hope.  

This Easter may our St Brigid’s community be open to finding new ways of loving generously and responding in hope through our faith.

Mary Magdalene is a great example for us to reflect upon this Easter season. She was a woman from Magdala, a small Galilean town known for its fishing, who became a female disciple and was the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

According to the Gospels, she visited Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday, either alone or with other women, and found the tomb empty. In the Gospel of John, Jesus actually appears to Mary Magdalene alone after his Resurrection, and instructs her to tell his disciples of his return.

In 2016, Mary Magdalene was proclaimed by Pope Francis the Apostle to the Apostles. This was a pretty exciting declaration by Pope Francis who saw the honouring of Mary Magdalene as an opportunity to reflect deeply on the dignity of women and their role in the Church. Turning to Mary Magdalene, Pope Francis said her example is one of hope, and that her intercession helps us to live the experience of the Resurrection, because “at the time of tears and abandonment, she hears the Risen Jesus who calls us by name, and with a heart full of joy goes to announce: I have seen the Lord!”

Like Mary of Magdala, we too are called to be great witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus. I encourage our community during this Easter season to: love radically; to be people of hope; to share your faith; to be a person of prayer and a witness of the Good News.

Loving God, we thank you for the love that brought Mary to the tomb in tears and took her away in joy.  

Thank you for your love that took Jesus through death for us to life with us.  

Thank you for the love that joins us to so many people.  

Be with all who suffer this Easter and  

May love lead us to be a witness, like Mary to the joys of the Resurrection. Amen