Jerusalem, Judah. When you’ve got really good news, you want to share it. That’s just what Mary of Magdala did, after having seen the crucified Jesus of Nazareth risen from the dead – his divinity and messiahship vindicated.
Here is how it happened. After the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and some friends went to see the sepulcher where Jesus had been buried. Then there was a great earthquake as an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance, she said, was like lightning, and his clothes white as snow. The guards trembled for fear and fainted!
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you.”
So Mary and her friends were afraid, but very joyful, and they ran to tell Jesus’ disciples. While they were going, Jesus met them and said, “Hail!”
They were astounded! They approached him and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
From there they went to tell the disciples, and though they did not believe them, their message piqued enough interest in two of the disciples, Peter and John, that they went to see for themselves. And they saw that the tomb was indeed empty, and that the shroud in which Jesus was buried remained there. They later saw the Risen Jesus, and by His command went out into the whole world to preach the Gospel.
Praised be Jesus Christ! Can you imagine what it must have been like to be among the first people entrusted with the message of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Would you have had the courage to tell the apostles what you had seen? What about now? Whether the first or the ten millionth, you yourself have been entrusted with the message of Christ’s Resurrection, and have been given the Holy Spirit to help you. Do you have the courage today to tell others of what the apostles saw and touched, and what you have experienced? Do not be afraid – have courage! Tell the Good News to all the world!