John 20: 1-9

It is the ‘first day of the week'. Mary Magdalene is the first witness of an event which marks not just the beginning of a new week but the transformation of human history. But ‘it is still dark' and she does not yet understand what has happened. I ponder the mystery. Wherever we share compassion, justice, reconciliation, faith, and encourage each other to be people of hope, we are people of the resurrection and ministers of the resurrection.

Jesus is raised from death each time we live his way of life. We do this in our various ways of showing care and concern for the lives and troubles of others. Easter prayer can be an asking in prayer to be ministers of the resurrection, as we discern how best to serve the risen Lord.

The tomb was empty, and, for the faithful ones, this was a sign of new life. Some would remember Jesus saying he would rise from death. Others would feel down, cheated or just lost. It is the same with ourselves: the tough times of life can bring us close to God, or distance us; suffering can make us better people, or make us bitter and isolated. We may feel a bit of both at times. The empty tomb is the message that nothing is final in this life, not even death. God's love is stronger than any human power, violence or cruelty. Love conquers all.