Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you’ve laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” ; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20: 1 – 18
Truly, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! His disciples experienced it; they touched Him, talked with Him, ate with Him – after His resurrection. Through their witnesses, we have come to know and believe that He is risen. And we shall be raised with Him, on the last day. For now, we celebrate this amazing truth – and we embrace the New Covenant – by partaking of His body and blood in communion. This is us sharing in the risen life of Christ. We live in His Spirit now, as followers of the risen Lord. Let us pray in joy with our Holy Saint Gregory as we celebrate this Easter Sunday. He is truly risen from the dead!
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
In my prayer I praise
the sign of your cross of salvation, which I worship,
the truth of your resurrection, which I believe,
the revelation of your glory, which I praise,
the sternness of your judgment, which I confess,
the reprimand of your words, which I fear,
the guiding companionship of your Holy Spirit, which I revere,
the anointing seal of the Lord at last unction, which I embrace,
the reigning with you, Lord Jesus, for which I pray.
Look with mercy upon me in my doubts and perils, glorified Son of God,
who alone are compassionate and will pardon, heal, save, protect,
renew, restore, lift up, support, and create me again in blissful purity.
Yours is the power, yours is the salvation, and yours the mercy.
Nothing is impossible for you.
Yours is might, exaltation, dominion and Kingdom without end,
true essence and selfhood, all-encompassing absolute being,
goodness and light, glorified as Lord,
to which nothing can be added or taken away,
adored in the Holy Trinity with inexplicable mystery
and given thanks for ever also in the Holy Trinity
in the same act of worship equally with the same honor,
yesterday, today and forever.
Amen
Prayer 73 C, D
