Pope: Easter Monday, God's victory over evil
At the Regina Caeli, which replaces the Angelus during the Easter period, Pope Francis explains that "Christ’s tomb was not opened by some physical phenomenon, rather by the Lord’s intervention". "All the plans and resistances of Christ’s enemies and persecutors have been in vain". The guards choose to remain silent "in the name of the god of money". “Take every opportunity to be witnesses of the joy and peace of the Risen Lord”. Greetings to the elderly and the sick.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The image of the angel sitting on the stone of the tomb is the concrete, visual manifestation of God's victory over evil, of Christ's victory over the prince of this world, of light over darkness. Christ’s tomb was not opened by some physical phenomenon, rather by the Lord’s intervention."
This was one of the highlights of Pope Francis’s reflection in today's Regina Caeli, the prayer that replaces the Angelus during the Easter period. “We recall the encounter between the angel with the women who came to Christ’s tomb (cf. Mt 28: 1-15)." But above all, it means "that Jesus was risen could only be said by an angel".
"The evangelist Matthew - he continued - narrates that on that Easter dawn" there was a great earthquake. An angel of the Lord, in fact, descended from heaven, approached, rolled the stone away and sat down on it "(cf. v. 2). That great stone, which should have been the seal of the victory of evil and death, was placed under his feet, it becomes the stool of the angel of the Lord. All the projects and resistance of Christ’s enemies and persecutors of Jesus were in vain”.
The pontiff focused on the attitude of the guards at the tomb: "they are unable to face the overwhelming force of God and are shocked by an inner earthquake: they were stunned (see verse 4). The power of the Resurrection overthrows those who had been used to guarantee the apparent victory of death ". Then, the same guards, "in the name of the god of money" choose to silence the miracle and support the interpretation of power.
The other attitude is that of women: "they are expressly invited by the angel of the Lord not to fear:" Do not be afraid! " (v. 5) and not to seek Jesus in the tomb”.
From the words of the angel we can gather a precious teaching: let us never tire of seeking the risen Christ, who gives life in abundance to those who meet him. Finding Christ means discovering peace of heart. The women of the Gospel themselves, after the initial upset, feel great joy in finding the Master alive (cf. vv. 8-9). In this Easter season, I wish everyone to have the same spiritual experience, welcoming in hearts, homes and families the good news of Easter: "The risen Christ no longer dies, death no longer has power over him" (Antiphon to the Communion). Christ accompanies me, Christ is alive ...
This certainty leads us to pray, today and throughout the Easter period: "Regina Caeli, laetare - Queen of Heaven, rejoice". The angel Gabriel greeted her like this the first time: 'Rejoice, full of grace!' (Lk 1:28). Now Mary's joy is complete: Jesus lives, Love has won. May it also be our joy! ”.
After the Marian prayer, Francis addressed a special greeting to "the elderly and the sick" as a sign of "comfort and thanks for your witness".
And he concluded: “Take every opportunity to be witnesses of the joy and peace of the risen Lord”.
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