He Has Risen, Alleluia!

+Feast of the Resurrection+

Prayer Society Intention for April, Month of the Holy Ghost

“Know ye not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost who is in you?” (1Cor 6, 19). “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God in whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4: 30).

Introduction

The following selections are paraphrased from Holy Scripture by Substack contributor Thomas Considine, recounting the various encounters of Jesus following His Resurrection up to the Ascension. It is a helpful summary of events for those who might not have the time to course through Holy Scripture and assemble them all in one place. Now that Lent is past, we can resume our regular blog posts on various doctrinal and other topics. Wishing everyone a blessed Easter.

THE EMPTY TOMB

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, the mother of James and Salome, bought sweet spices that coming they might anoint Jesus. And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning when it was yet dark and when it began to dawn, they came to see the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And the sun being now risen they said one to another: ‟Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre.‟ And behold there was a great earthquake and looking, they saw the stone rolled back, taken away from the sepulchre. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and coming rolled back the stone for it was very great, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him the guards were struck with terror and became as dead men.

And the angel answering said to the woman: “Fear not you for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here for he is risen as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord was laid.‟ And entering into the sepulchre they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed with a white robe. And it came to pass as they were astonished in their mind at this behold two men stood by them in shining apparel. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said to them: “Be not affrighted. Why seek you the living with the dead. You seek Jesus of Nazareth Who was crucified. He is not here, but is risen.

Behold the place where they laid him. Remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. But going quickly, you all tell his disciples and Peter that he is risen. And behold he will go before you into Galilee. There you shall see him as he told you. Lo I have foretold it to you.‟ And they remembered his words.” (Matthew 28, 1-7; Mark 16, 1-7; Luke 24, 1-8; John 20, 1.)

THE FIRST APPARITION

But they going out quickly, fled from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, for a great trembling and fear had seized them. And they said nothing to any man, for they were afraid. (Mary Magdalen ran therefore and comes to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and says to them: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him.‟)  And behold Jesus met them saying: “All hail.‟ But they came up and took hold of his feet and adored him. Then Jesus said to them: “Fear not. Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee. There they shall see me.‟  (Matthew 28, 8-10; Mark 16, 8; Luke 24, 9, 10; John 20, 2.)

THE FIRST WITNESS

And going back from the sepulchre they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. And it was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary of James, and the other women that were with them who told these things to the apostles. And these words seemed to them as idle tales and they did not believe them” (Luke 24, 9-11).

PETER AND JOHN

But Peter rising up went out and ran to the sepulchre, and that other disciple. And they came to the sepulchre. And they both ran together and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulchre. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying, but yet he went not in. Then comes Simon Peter following him, and stooping down he saw the linen cloths laid by themselves, and went into the sepulchre. And saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin that had been about his head not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in who came first to the sepulchre. And he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. The disciples therefore departed again to their home. And Peter went away wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke 24, 12; John 20, 3-10).

MARY MAGDALEN

But he rising early the first day of the week appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now, as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre and she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her: “Woman, why weep you?‟ She says to them: “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.‟ When she had thus said she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus says to her: “Woman, why weep you? Whom seek you?‟ She, thinking that it was the gardener, said to him: “Sir, if you have taken him hence tell me where you has laid him and I will take him away.‟ Jesus says to her: “Mary‟. She, turning, says to him: “Rabboni.‟ (Which is to say: “Master.‟)

Jesus says to her: “Do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.‟ Mary Magdalen comes and tells the disciples that had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. “I have seen the Lord, and these things he said to me.‟ And they, hearing that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe” (Mark 16, 9-11; John 20, 11-18).

THE DISCIPLES AT EMMAUS

And behold, after that, he appeared in another shape to two of them walking that same day as they were going into the country to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near went with them, but their eyes were held that they should not know him. And he said to them: “What are these discourses that you hold with one another as you walk and are sad.‟ And the one of them answering whose name was Cleophas said to him: “Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem and have not known the things that have been done there in these days?‟

To whom he said: “What things?‟ And they said: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people. And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we hoped that it was he that should have redeemed Israel. And now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company affrighted us, who, before it was light were at the sepulchre, and, not finding his body, came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who say that he is alive. And some of our people went to the sepulchre and found it so, as the women said, but him they found not.‟ Then he said to them: “O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to enter into his glory?‟

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things that were concerning him. And they drew nigh unto the town whither they were going, and he made as though he would go farther. But they constrained him saying: “Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent‟. And he went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened and they knew him. And he vanished out of their sight. And they said to one another, “Was not our heart burning within us whilst he spoke in the way, and opened to us the scriptures?‟

And rising up the same hour they went back to Jerusalem and they found the eleven gathered together and those that were with them saying, “The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.‟ And they told what things were done in the way and how they knew him in the breaking of bread. And they, going, told it to the rest; neither did they believe them” (Mark 16, 12, 13; Luke 24, 13-35).

FIRST APPEARANCE TO THE APOSTLES

Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews, whilst they were speaking of these things, at length Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were at table, and came and stood in the midst of them. And he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart because they would not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. And he said to them: “Peace be to you. It is I. Fear not.‟ But they, being troubled and frightened, supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them: “Why are you troubled and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See my hands and feet. That it is I, myself, handle and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see me to have.‟

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet and his side. But while yet they believe not and wondered for joy, he said: “Have you here anything to eat?‟ And they offered him a piece of broiled fish and a honey-comb. And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.‟ When he had said this, he breathed on them and he said to them: “Receive all you the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained” (Mark 16, 14; Luke 24, 36-43; John 20, 19-23).

THE APPARITION TO THOMAS

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus [the Twin], was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: “We have seen the Lord.‟ But he said to them: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.‟ And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus comes, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: “Peace be to you.‟ Then he said to Thomas: “Put in your finger hither and see my hands and bring hither your hand and put it into my side, and be not faithless but believing.‟ Thomas answered and said to him: “My Lord and my God.‟ Jesus says to him: „Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and have believed” (John 20, 24-29).

BY THE SEA OF TIBERIAS

After this Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he showed himself after this manner. There were together Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathaniel, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter says to them: “I go a-fishing.‟ They say to him: “We also come with you.‟ And they went forth and entered into the ship. And that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: “Children, have you any meat?‟

They answered him: “No.‟ He says to them: “Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find.‟ They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: “It is the Lord.‟ Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, for he was practically naked, and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship, for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits, dragging the net with fishes.

As soon, then, as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus says to them: “Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught‟. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three, and although there were so many the net was not broken. Jesus says to them: “Come and dine.‟ And none of them who were ate meat dared ask him: “Who are you?‟ knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus comes and takes bread and gives them, and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples after he was risen from the dead.

When, therefore, they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon, son of John, love you me more than these?‟

He says to him: “Yea, Lord, you know that I love you.‟

He said to him: “Feed my lambs.‟

He says to him again: “Simon, son of John, love you me?‟

He says to him: “Yea, Lord, you know that I love you.‟

He says to him: “Look after my lambs.‟

He says to him the third time: „Simon, son of John, love you me?‟

Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: “Love you me?‟

And he said to him: “Lord, you know all things — you know that I love you.‟

He said to him: “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger you did gird yourself and did walk where you would. But when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands and another shall gird you and lead you whither you would not.‟

And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he says to him: “Follow me.‟ Peter, turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved, following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said: “Lord, who is he that shall betray you?‟ Him, therefore, when Peter had seen, he says to Jesus: „Lord, and what shall this man do?‟ Jesus says to him: “So if I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to you? Follow you me.‟ This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die, yet Jesus did not say to him: “He should not die‟, but, “So if I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to you?‟ This is that disciple who gives testimony of these things and has written these things and we know that his testimony is true” (John 21, 1-24).

ON THE MOUNT OF GALILEE

And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing him, they adored, but some doubted. And Jesus, coming, spoke to them saying: “All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, into the whole world, preach the gospel to every creature. And, all you, teach all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe, — In my name, they will cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. And, behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world” (Matthew, 28, 16-20; Mark 18, 15-18).