Great Joy – Reflection on Matthew 28:8-15
Our Glorified resurrected Jesus potentially contacted both Marys’ first to show us their unconditional belief and love. We glimpse them filled with filial fear and great joy with Jesus’s appearance and a spiritual embrace by touching Jesus. A similar kind of touch can occur for you in certain situations. These include immersing in a scene with Jesus in the Word, recognizing God in the quiet, special moments during service, or deep prayer. Can you hear the echo of both Mary’s announcing the Good News of a risen Christ to the disciples? Like them, we can increasingly become stronger witnesses and participate in Divinity’s grace to help transform hearts into the color of Christ’s love.
Jesus Appears to the Holy Woman by James Tissot (full-resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website
Additional Eastertide Reflections
Matthew 28:8-15 – Scripture*
8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
The Report of the Guard
11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 28:8-15 Reflection – Great Joy.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Matthew 28 passage.
This site follows the guidelines for image web use at the websites of the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Great Joy
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.