杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

from the library of the Apostolic Palace, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled that the day is also known as Monday of the Angel because "we recall the meeting of the angel with the women who arrived at Jesus' tomb" after He had risen.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that the angel said to them: 鈥淚 know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen" This expression - 鈥淗e has risen鈥� - goes beyond human capacity, said the 杏MAP导航.

Even the women who had gone to the tomb and had found it open and empty could not confirm 鈥淗e has risen鈥�, but only that the tomb was empty.

"Only an angel could say that Jesus had risen", he said, just as only an angel had been able to say to Mary: 鈥測ou will conceive a son...and he will be called the Son of the Most High.鈥�

The Lord's intervention

The 杏MAP导航 then noted that Matthew the Evangelist narrates that on Easter morning 鈥渢here was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat on it.鈥�

He explained that the large stone, which "was supposed to be the seal of the victory of evil and death, was put underfoot," and "becomes the footstool of the angel of the Lord."

All of the plans and defenses of Jesus鈥檚 enemies and persecutors were in vain, he said. The image of the angel sitting on the stone before the tomb is "the concrete, visible manifestation of God鈥檚 victory over evil, of Christ鈥檚 victory over the prince of this world, of light over darkness."

Jesus鈥檚 tomb was not opened by a physical phenomenon, but "by the Lord鈥檚 intervention", said the 杏MAP导航. The angel鈥檚 appearance, 鈥渨as like lightning, and his raiment white as snow."

"These details are symbols that confirm the intervention of God himself, bearer of a new era, of the last times of history," said the 杏MAP导航.

A two-fold reaction

There is a two-fold reaction in beholding this intervention on God鈥檚 part, said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

The first is that of the guards, "who cannot face the overwhelming power of God and are shaken by an interior earthquake: they became like dead men." The power of the Resurrection overthrows those who had been used to guarantee the apparent victory of death.

The second is the reaction of the women, which the 杏MAP导航 described as being "very different" because "they are expressly invited by the angel of the Lord not to be afraid and not to seek Jesus in the tomb."

A lesson from the angels

杏MAP导航 Francis then went on to note that we can reap a precious teaching from the angel鈥檚 words.

"We should never tire of seeking the Risen Christ who gives life in abundance to those who meet Him," he said. He explained that "to find Christ means to discover peace of heart." The same women of the Gospel, after initially being shaken, experience great joy in discovering the Master alive, he said.

"In this Easter Season, my wish is that everyone might have the same spiritual experience, welcoming in our hearts, in our homes and in our families the joyful proclamation of Easter: 'Christ, having risen from the dead dies now no more; death will no longer have dominion over Him.'"

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded that it is this certainty that "moves us to pray today and throughout the Easter Season."

"The angel Gabriel had greeted [Mary] thus the first time: 鈥淩ejoice, full of grace!鈥� (see Lk 1:28). Now Mary鈥檚 joy is complete: Jesus lives; Love has conquered."

"May this be our joy as well!" said the 杏MAP导航.