Reflection for April 4 Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter: Matthew 28:1-10

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 

His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. 

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” 

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

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Reflection:

What is the greatest achievement we can ever have in this world? It is to have a personal encounter with Jesus. More than any success, possession, or recognition, this is the greatest grace we can ever receive in our lives. From this sacred encounter flows a deep and lasting friendship—a relationship that fills our hearts with meaning, purpose, and love.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James were blessed with this life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. In that holy moment, their sorrow was turned into joy, their confusion into clarity, and their fear into courage. From that encounter blossomed a faithful and enduring friendship with the Lord. In their story, we see our own longing—a quiet yet persistent desire within us to meet the Lord and be transformed by His presence.

Why do we seek an encounter with the risen Christ? Because without Him, our lives feel empty, restless, and incomplete. As Saint Augustine of Hippo reminds us, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, we, too, carry burdens, questions, and longings deep within our hearts. And like them, we will only find true peace and lasting joy when we encounter the risen Lord who calls us by name and draws us close to Himself.

This is what we are all invited to seek. Let us open our hearts more deeply. Let us desire Him more sincerely. Let us seek Him more faithfully—in our prayers, in the silence of our hearts, and most especially in our loving and reverent participation in the Holy Mass. For when we truly seek the Lord, we will surely find Him, and in finding Him, we discover the fullness of life we have been longing for.

 Now the question is no longer whether the Lord is present—He is always near to us. The real question is this:

 Are we truly seeking a personal encounter with the risen Christ, or are we content with merely knowing about Him without ever allowing Him to transform our lives?— Marino J. Dasmarinas