Gospel
On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
This event is the most important event in our world. It has impacted humanity for 2000 years. It is the most sacred and holy day of the year for us.
For with the risen Christ comes the real body and blood of the Eucharist. With his rising comes his commandments to his disciples to forgive sins and with his rising comes the foundation and whole reason for his church built on earth, established by Jesus and led by apostles in a line unbroken from Peter.
As Catholics we continue the mass established by his apostles from the beginning. And each week we come here and partake of real flesh and real blood in union with Christ. Divine once again meeting humanity in the flesh.
And all the faithful believed this until some went astray and no longer listened to Jesus words in the Gospel emphatically telling us this is my body and blood and unless you eat the real body and blood you have no life within you.
Many didn’t listen then either and some disciples walked away. This was a command that was too hard for them. In response because he was speaking clearly and not about symbolism he asked the 12 if they too wanted to walk away. They didn’t and now the world knows the Good News.
Today we will once again come together to profess our faith and acknowledge more than just a belief but a commitment to Jesus. For belief is not enough. It is not in relationships or business, and it is not with God.
Today let’s come forward to receive his body and blood and reaffirm our commitment to once again follow his way and love in commitment and thanksgiving.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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