The Easter story is urgent news for the world that we all have a duty to pass on. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Easter Monday can be found here.
What is the most urgent news you have ever had to deliver? Does it compare to Pheidippides of Ancient Greek legend? After the Greek army defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, he was sent from the battlefield to the city of Athens to deliver the news. He is said to have run roughly 25 miles, burst into the assembly, and exclaimed “Nike!” (Victory) before collapsing and dying from exhaustion. Pheidippides’s journey later gave rise to the marathon race of modern athletics.
There’s a sense of urgency in our readings today. In the Gospel we meet the women on Easter Day just after the discovery of the empty tomb. They depart quickly from the tomb to tell the disciples what has happened. On the way they encounter the risen Jesus. He gives them an urgent message – go and tell the disciples to make haste for Galilee where they will see him. Although Peter isn’t journeying at speed in the first reading, his speech on the day of Pentecost has an urgency about it. He is keen for the people of Jerusalem to understand what has happened in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The temptation for us is to see Easter Day as marking the completion of a busy liturgical schedule. Easter Monday is the time for a rest. That may be no bad thing, but our readings remind us that Easter is the beginning not the end. Like Peter we are called upon to proclaim the good news that Jesus is risen. The Lord himself gives us the same command as to the women at the tomb: “go and tell”. We may not all have the energy or endurance of Pheidippides, but let us go out from this Mass with an eager urgency to deliver the Easter news to all.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig & St Samson at 10am.
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