Gospel
Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. 5 Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” 8 Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Introduction
Two women—Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”—walk toward a tomb expecting to encounter death, but instead they meet the shattering truth of the Resurrection. This passage is not only the climax of the Gospel narrative; it is the dawn of a new creation. It invites us to step into the same journey: from darkness to light, from despair to hope, from endings to beginnings.
Historical Background
The events occur “after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning.” This is early Sunday morning, the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.
Jewish burial customs expected loved ones to return to the tomb to anoint the body with spices. The women’s visit reflects devotion, grief, and loyalty. Roman guards were stationed at the tomb to prevent any tampering. Their presence underscores the impossibility of a human-led removal of Jesus’ body.
Earthquakes in Scripture often signal divine intervention. The earthquake here marks God’s decisive act: the Resurrection. Angels appearing at tombs or significant moments (e.g., Daniel, Zechariah, Mary) signify heaven breaking into human history. This moment is not quiet or subtle. It is cosmic, disruptive, and world-changing.
Theological Context
The Resurrection is God’s definitive victory over death. The angel proclaims: “He is not here, for He has been raised.” This is the central claim of Christianity. Without the Resurrection, the Gospel collapses.
God chooses the humble and faithful to be first witnesses. Women—whose testimony was not legally valued in ancient Jewish courts—are chosen as the first heralds of the Resurrection. God overturns human hierarchies. The women leave the tomb “fearful yet overjoyed.” Faith does not eliminate fear; it transforms it. Before the women reach the disciples, Jesus meets them. Grace always runs ahead of us.
Galilee is where Jesus first called His disciples. Returning there symbolizes returning to one’s calling, purpose, and first love.
Learning Lessons
God moves even when we expect nothing but silence. The women expected a sealed tomb; God had already acted. Obedience opens the door to encounter. They went to the tomb out of love—and found the Risen Lord.
Fear is not a barrier to mission. The angel and Jesus both say, “Do not be afraid.” Courage is not the absence of fear but the presence of Christ.
We are called to proclaim hope. “Go quickly and tell…” The Resurrection is not a private comfort but a public commission. Jesus meets us in our Galilee—our ordinary life. The Resurrection is not only for holy places but for daily living.
Reflection for the Day
Where is your Galilee? Where did you first feel God’s love? Where did your faith awaken? Where did Jesus first call your name?
The Risen Christ invites you to return—not to nostalgia, but to renewal. He meets you on the road, in your fears, in your uncertainties, in your longing for hope. Today, let the empty tomb remind you that your story is not over, your darkness is not final, your tears are not wasted. Your Savior is alive—and He is already ahead of you.
Poem
“At the Edge of Dawn”
At the edge of dawn they walked,
hearts heavy with yesterday’s sorrow,
hands carrying spices for a body
they would never find.
The earth trembled,
heaven opened,
and a stone rolled away
not just from a tomb
but from the human heart.
Fear and joy intertwined
like morning light breaking through night.
And on the road of returning,
Love Himself appeared—
radiant, risen, real.
“Do not be afraid,” He said,
and the world has never been the same.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Risen Savior, You who shattered the power of death and opened the way to everlasting life, I come before You with the same mixture of fear and joy that filled the hearts of the women at the tomb.
Roll away the stones in my life— the stones of doubt, guilt, weariness, and fear. Meet me on my journey as You met them on theirs. Speak again Your words of peace: “Do not be afraid.” Lead me back to my Galilee—to the place where faith was born, where love first awakened, where Your voice first called my name.
Strengthen me to proclaim Your Resurrection not only with my words but with my life. Alleluia, Lord Jesus. You are alive, and because You live, I rise with You today.
Amen.
Pericope
VII : The Passion and Resurrection
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Matthew 28:1-10
