EASTER VIGIL, YEAR B.
30th March 2024
Romans 6:3-11; Mark 16:1-8
According to our gospel passage, the women who visited the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus discovered that he is risen. They went to tell the disciples as they were instructed by the angel at the tomb. But you must go and tell his disciples and Peter. It wasn’t the fact of the empty tomb but the testimony of his faithful followers that announced his resurrection. It is interesting to note that the crowd at his passion and death overshadowed his very few disciples but at his resurrection, the testimony of his few disciples overshadowed the crowd.
The proclamation of his resurrection is a daily obligation of every Christian. The courage to announce his resurrection is given to us at baptism. When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death. We announce his resurrection not by words but by our actions. We have shared in his death through our Lenten observance, we have the opportunity to share in his resurrection through the new life of Easter. If in union with Christ we have imitated his death, we shall also imitate him in his resurrection. What we share is the transformation of our lives resulting from the self-discipline during the Lenten season. That Jesus is risen indeed must reflect in our lives!
Fr Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.