Gospel
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
Jesus comes to us as we are on our way doing his works. He comes to us when we share our blessings. He comes to us when filled with the joy of knowing him present in our lives, we go to tell others the good news.
We have traveled from Lent and fasting and waiting, to the celebration of Easter, now to this New Monday.
It is the other side of Easter Sunday and we should be like the Marys in our Gospel. Ready to share his joy and blessings with others. It is a new world for Jesus rose from the dead as he defeated death. Death for the world and the death that causes us to be owned by sin.
We are now free and can live in freedom with Christ our Messiah.
On this side of Easter we have nothing to fear and only eternal life in front of us. But we also return to work and the familiar workings of day-to-day life.
Let us bring Easter with us, the good news, his joy in our hearts. Do not let go. For Easter doesn’t stop on Sunday but continues to bring joy to those who hold fast to the truth and love of God.
Jesus will meet us on this side of Easter too. As we share and love and bring his message to others. We will find him on the way.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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