In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
Christ is risen!
All was lost, the disciples had fled. The One whom they believed would bring about the restoration of Israel was left hanging on the Tree, carrion for vultures. Nothing more was to be gained. And Joseph went to Pilate. Jerusalem was always as a powder-keg, ready to blow, at Passover: Pilate and the Romans were used to extreme measures to put down any possible insurrection, and still Joseph went to Pilate. He went because it was the right thing to do, he went because the Body should not be left out through the night, he went because his love for Christ did not stop with death.
And I reflect on my life. Would I have shown such boldness and love? Or would I be cowering with disciples? I am there for the good things—the celebrations, the miracles, the feasts—but where am I in the challenging times, in the difficult times, in the times of trials and tribulations? For the Eleven, when they received the Holy Spirit they went out with boldness to the ends of the earth: for me, having received the Holy Spirit in baptism and chrismation, having had the witness of two thousand years of the Church, the martyrs, the confessors, the ascetics, the saints; for me, having received everything, what is my excuse?
The Myrrh-bearers, too, had nothing, but they did not let that stop them. They went to the Tomb at early dawn not knowing that they would greet the living Lord but that they might serve Him one last time without any reward. And while I want assurances that everything I do for Christ counts in my “good list,” they went expecting nothing in return, they went out of love for God.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a risk to be a Christian, a follower of the Lord: it can cost us. Perhaps we will lose prestige in society or perform service towards others without any reward. We are called to sacrifice ourselves. But the more we offer ourselves the more we receive, the more we give the more is given to us. The cost is real, the service is hard, but if we do it the Lord will honour our gifts and reward our intentions. Let us not cower but let us go out, even in the bleak times, and perform the works of the Lord in this world that we may turn again towards Him, run to His embrace, and be united with Him in the joy of His Kingdom.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
To our crucified and risen God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who came not to be served but to serve and to offer His life as a ransom for many, be all glory, honour and might, together with His unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit. Amen.
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
— Acts 6:1–7
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
— Mark 15:43–47, 16:1–8