EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
The Empty Tomb
On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the
morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and
told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and
came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster
than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there,
but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths
there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a
separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
St. Cleopas of Emmaus (Feast Day September 25)
1st Century
St. Cleopas was one of the disciples who met the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus, and is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on September 25th. While little is known of either him or his companion, there is a tradition which identifies this Cleopas with the husband of Mary (the mother of James the Lesser). Furthermore, some speculate that he was the brother of St. Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary.
The Gospel of Luke offers a unique post-resurrection narrative of Cleopas and an unnamed traveling companion who were on their way to Emmaus, a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem. The two travelers felt troubled over the recent death of Jesus. They had placed great hopes in Christ and felt confused over his death, yet they were simultaneously amazed over the stories circulating that day about a resurrection. As they walked, they encountered Jesus who interpreted the Scriptures to them in an attempt to help Cleopas and his friend understand the necessity of what had happened. The words of Jesus must have given the two a sense of awe, for as they approached Emmaus, they urged Jesus―whom they still did not recognize―to stay with them. Jesus agreed, and at the dinner table, he took the bread, blessed it, and gave it to Cleopas and his friend. It was at that moment the two realized that this stranger was Jesus. At the moment of recognition, however, Jesus vanished. Even though it was already evening and getting dark, Cleopas and his companion promptly went back to Jerusalem to share their glorious experience.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
· Which holiday do you think is more important, Christmas or Easter? Explain why.
· What would it be like to see the empty tomb on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection?
· Jesus rose from the dead. What difference does that make to your life?
· Why do you think Cleopas and his friend initially had a hard time believing in Jesus’ resurrection?
FAMILY FUN
Paper Chain of Gratitude
Invite each family member to write on a slip of paper something for which they are grateful today. Turn one slip into a paper ring and staple or tape it. Put the next paper slip into the first ring and create a new ring. Repeat this until all the paper slips are added. Consider having a particular color for each family member. Continue doing this all week or possibly the whole Easter season to see how much you have to be grateful for in your lives!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Tortilla Roll-Up
The stone was rolled away! Celebrate with this tortilla roll-up!
2 -8oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1 package original ranch style salad dressing mix
1 small jar chopped red pimentos, drained
1 small can chopped chilies, drained or ½ of a fresh jalapeño pepper, cored and diced
1 can ripe olives drained and chopped
1 package fajita size flour tortillas
Soften cream cheese in a bowl and mix all ingredients together. Spread the mix on the tortillas and roll the tortilla. Wrap to tighten with saran wrap. Chill overnight or for several hours. To serve, cut in bite sized pieces, about ¾ inch to serve.
FAMILY PRAYER
Praying with Music
As a family, listen to the song Build My Life. You should be able to find the song on YouTube or wherever you stream music. Reflect on the lyrics and share what Easter means to you.
LITURGY LINK
Listen to the words of the hymns that are being sung at Mass today. In what way do these hymns glorify what God has accomplished in Jesus Christ?
FAMILY CHALLENGE
Practice unusually gracious hospitality by inviting someone who may be alone or new to the area to join you for Easter dinner at your house or a relative or friend’s house. If this is not possible, ask this person to join you for a later celebration.
FUN FACTS
The site of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is identified as the place of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. Today, visitors can enter the cave (which is preserved inside the church) and see the actual place where Jesus rose from the dead. Visitors generally wait in line for 3 or 4 hours to visit the tomb.
