A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

On this second day in the Octave of Easter, Jesus says to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “Do not be afraid.” After all they experienced at the empty tomb—an earthquake, an angel descending from heaven, paralyzed Roman guards—the emotions of the two Marys were full of fear and joy as they hurried back to tell the disciples what had happened. And then Jesus met them. Consider how Jesus meets them where they are at that moment, at the height of their overwhelming joy and trembling. They couldn’t wait to share what they had witnessed. By contrast, the guards who had been frozen in fear went to tell the chief priests what had happened and were told to keep quiet. They received hush money. What did they do, Lord, when you met the two Marys on the road? Matthew says, “They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.” Where will I be today when Jesus meets me on the way, and will I recognize him?

God, help me be ready to go out and receive you wherever today’s road leads. Often I choose paths that lead me out of fear away from giving witness to you through my life and words. Help me understand that you are there along the harder path of being your witness. Keep me in the truth of the resurrection of your Son and give me the grace to be a faithful witness of him to others.

Thank you, Lord, for this day, which is yours. Keep me in your peace and the joy of the risen Christ. As the Gospel acclamation says, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.