Eastertide: The Miraculous Resurrection

As Easter week comes to end, let us reflect of the glory of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Taking from the four Gospels, according to St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John, let us read of the true meaning of Eastertide.

                                        "The Ressurection of Jesus" by Carl Bloch, circa 1881

"Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. And when it was evening, there came a certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered. And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth. And laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way." - St. Matthew (26:56-60)

In this scripture, we witness the aftermath of Jesus Christ's passion on Good Friday, His bodied was entombed in the sepulcher given by Joseph of Arimathea. Following this event, the following passage by St. Mark depicts the women traveling to the sepulcher, whereupon St. Mary Magdalen meets the ressurected Christ.

"At that time, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering the into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe, and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not affrightened; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified: He is risen, He is not here; behold the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples, and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him, as he told you." - St. Mark (16:1-7)

With this passage from St. Mark, we see St. Mary Magdalen as she humbly witnesses the greatness of Christ's ressurection. In these moments, we see St. Mary Magdalen obey the commands of Jesus Christ as he commands that she tell His disciples. Upon doing so, we are given this depiction in the Gospel of St. Luke.

"And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them. But Peter rising up, ran to the sepulchre, and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths laid by themselves; and went away wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them." - St. Luke (24:11-15)

                                       "Christ's Charge to Peter" by Raphael, circa 1515-1516

In the final Gospel, St. John describes Jesus Christ among His apostles after His ressurection. 

"Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: Come, and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs." - St. John (24:11-15)

In this scripture, we see the closing of Jesus Christ's ressurection as he gives St. Peter the headship of His Church. This reading finalizes the greatness of Eastertide and the miracle of Easter. 

Alleluia!