First Reading - Acts 2:36-41
Gospel - John 20:11-18
In the first reading from the Acts of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter the Apostle speaks with great conviction. He declares that Jesus, whom they crucified, has been made both Lord and Christ. The people who hear him are “cut to the heart.” This is a beautiful expression—it means they are deeply moved, shaken, and awakened. And they ask, “What must we do?”
Peter’s answer is clear: repent and be baptized. Turn your life around. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the response to the Resurrection—not just admiration, but conversion. About three thousand people accept this message and begin a new life. The Resurrection leads to a transformed community.
In the Gospel from Gospel of John, we see a very personal encounter with the Risen Lord. Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb, weeping. Even when she sees Jesus, she does not recognize Him at first. She is overwhelmed by sorrow and confusion. But everything changes in a single moment—when Jesus calls her by name: “Mary.”
That one word opens her eyes. She recognizes Him. Her sorrow turns into joy, her confusion into clarity, her despair into mission. She becomes the first witness, sent to proclaim to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”
Dear friends, these readings speak to us about two essential movements of Easter: conversion and encounter.
Like the crowd in the first reading, we too are invited to let the Word of God touch our hearts. Faith is not just about listening—it is about allowing ourselves to be changed. We must ask ourselves: are our hearts still open? Are we willing to repent, to change, to grow?
And like Mary Magdalene, we are invited into a personal encounter with Jesus. He knows each of us by name. He meets us in our confusion, our sorrow, and even in our doubts. But we must be attentive to His voice.
Sometimes, like Mary, we fail to recognize Him—because we are too focused on our problems, our fears, or our expectations. But when we truly listen, when we allow Him to speak to our hearts, everything changes.
The Risen Lord then sends us out, just as He sent Mary. “Go and tell.” Easter always leads to mission. We cannot keep the joy of encountering Christ to ourselves—we are called to share it.
The question for us today is simple: have we truly encountered the Risen Lord? Has His Word touched our hearts? Has it led us to conversion?
May we allow the voice of Jesus to call us by name. May our hearts be open to change. And may we, like Mary Magdalene, become joyful witnesses who proclaim: “I have seen the Lord.”
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