April 1, 2018 EASTER SUNDAY-B

Acts of the Apostles 10:34, 37-43

Psalm 118

Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1:1-9

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter.  John 20:4

Lord, running seems to be the immediate reaction to your empty tomb.  Mary Magdalene ran from the tomb while Peter and the Beloved Disciple ran to it.  She thought your body had been stolen, Peter maybe wasn’t sure but the Beloved Disciple believed you had risen.  Looking back on your life, suffering and death through the lens of Easter changes everything.  Lord, if your story ended at the cross I wouldn’t be praying to you today.  It took your followers some time to understand this most awesome of all events.  In my life, it has taken some time for me to believe too.  Last night your Church grew with the entry of new believers being Baptized and welcomed into full communion.  May they be so excited as to run to you like Peter did.  May they grow in their belief like Mary Magdalene.  Today, I will renew my baptismal promises to reject evil and embrace you as the living God.  Let me not doubt, let me not be confused.  Let me instead run, peer deep inside the empty tomb, and believe.  ALLELUIA Amen.