He is not here, for he has been raised

HOLY SATURDAY 11 APRIL (Mt 28,1-10)

Three times Jesus had announced that He, after his death by crucifixion, would be raised on the third day. But this language was dark, very dark for them: “Then he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon; and after they have scourged him they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise.” But they understood nothing of this; the word remained hidden from them and they failed to comprehend what he said” (Lk 18,31-34). The Psalm announces that after his intimate torment, the Suffering Just would have seen the light: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. Save me from the lion’s mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me. I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him. The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! Posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it” (Cf. Ps 22 (21),1-2.22-26.30-32).

The Song of the Servant of the Lord of Isaiah leaves no doubt about the return to life from death: “ (But the Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses” (Is 53,10-12). Both the ancient prophecies and Christ Jesus announce a single mystery, which is of death and resurrection. But both the disciples and the women see Jesus in death and the thought of the resurrection does not even touch them. Mary of Magdala and the other Mary go to the sepulchre, to complete the just mentioned burial rite, on the evening of the burial because of the Saturday.

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this 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.”

The resurrection was not observed in its making. No one saw Jesus while he resurrected. The Angels announce the mystery. It is believed in it by faith. The disciples might see Risen Jesus in Galilee, according to what he foretold. The women believe in mystery and are rewarded. Jesus appears to them and confirms them in the mission. They will have to tell their brothers, that is, the disciples, to go to Galilee. There they will see him. He began the mission from Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. From the Galilee the disciples will have to leave to go all over the world, always according to the prophecy of Isaiah (Is 8,22-9,69). The Apostles are the continuators of the Master’s Mission. One Mission, one Missionary: Christ the Lord, in his Person of true God and true man, in his body which is the Church.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make us perfect continuators of the mission of Christ Jesus.