Easter Greetings

by Fr. Chris Axiline  |  04/05/2026  |  Weekly Reflection

Hello St. Mary's -

St. Mary Roman Catholic Church Happy Easter! May the joy of the Risen Lord be with you!

On this most joyous of days know first of all that you are in my prayers daily and that it is truly a joy for me to be here with you serving you and helping facilitate an encounter with Christ in word and sacrament. On this most glorious of days, we can reflect on one of the Gospels (Matthew 28:1-10), the journey of Mary Magdalene and some other women to the tomb of Jesus.

The text tells us that they are going to the tomb while it is still dark. If we've ever been awake right before the sunrise (I enjoy getting up early and watching the sunrise wherever I go) we know that this is both the darkest time of night and often the coldest. Yet, there is also a tranquility and a profound silence that marks this time too. This silence can be both captivating and terrifying and I'm sure for these holy women it was certainly a mix of emotions.

How are they going to roll the stone away? How are they going to get past the Roman guards assigned to watch over the tomb of Christ? Roman soldiers were highly trained specialists and were very good at their job: keeping people away. Yet, the women continue undeterred. Certainly, in awe and filled with grief over the past three days (Christ's betrayal, arrest, torture, and crucifixion) but still they move ever closer to the tomb. What drives them on? Their love for Christ! They have such a deep love that they want to be in His presence, even if it is to prepare the body for burial so they come laden with oils and aromatic spices to prepare His corpse and to say goodbye.

Matthew's Gospel narrative portrays all of this dramatically in the darkness before dawn on Easter morning. One of the things that makes Matthew's Gospel so dramatic, and captivating is his literary mastery and ability to set a backdrop for God to do amazing things. From the joy of wedding suddenly grinding to a halt because they have no wine, to hungry crowds that need to be fed, to an encounter with the Risen Lord set against a backdrop of darkness, Roman power, and a heavy stone (estimates say that this stone weighed around 200 pounds and required great effort to move). These women soldier on bravely clinging for one last chance to be with Christ. In this context they encounter the Risen Lord as they confront their fears and see that God has the final word when the world seems to have one; Christ breaks through and His glory shines. This is the victory of Easter for which we give thanks today and which, we pray, fills our hearts.

Easter is the day when the glory of the Lord shines gloriously, victoriously, and undiminished. Inspired by the example of these holy women may we confront our fears and seek Christ in all circumstances, no matter the difficulties and, in so doing, see Christ so that our joy might be in Him and never taken away as He, risen from the dead, dies no more.