And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

        And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;  but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest;  not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.  To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Today's Epistle is from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians, beginning at the 3rd Chapter and the 1st Verse:

        If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.   For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

+ A Reading from the Gospel of Mark, beginning at the 16th Chapter and the First Verse:

        And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and  anoint him.  And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.   And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"   And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very large.   And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.   And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where  they laid him.   But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."

                        (from: The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom)

        What can I say?

        The sheer power of the drama we have been thorough -- the betrayal, the trial, the agony, the death, and the awful waiting -- has taken us through the depths of loss & depression, and unto the heights of inexpressible glory!

        In the early hours of the third day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb to anoint Him --- and He is not there.  He is risen and gone on before.

        He is Risen!

        He is Risen from the Dead!

        Death, where is thy sting?

        We died with Christ in the Waters of Baptism, and we are raised up with Him in the Eucharist.

        Alleluia!

            Alleluia!

                Alleluia!
 

    Let us pray then, and praise . . .
 
 

        In the Name of
        The Father     +
        And of the Son
        And of the Holy Spirit
Amen.