Gospel of April 12, 2020 with commentary: Easter Sunday

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 20,1: 9-XNUMX.
On the day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb early in the morning, when it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been overturned by the tomb.
Then he ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them: "They took the Lord away from the tomb and we do not know where they placed him!".
Then Simon Peter went out with the other disciple, and they went to the sepulcher.
Both ran together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came first to the tomb.
Bending over, he saw the bandages on the ground, but did not enter.
Meanwhile Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb and saw the bandages on the ground,
and the shroud, which had been placed on his head, not on the ground with bandages, but folded in a separate place.
Then the other disciple, who had come first to the tomb, also entered and saw and believed.
They had not yet understood the Scripture, that is, he had to rise from the dead.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa (ca 335-395)
monk and bishop

Homily on the holy and healthy Easter; PG 46, 581
The first day of new life
Here is a wise maxim: "In times of prosperity, misfortune is forgotten" (Sir 11,25). Today the first sentence against us is forgotten - indeed it is annulled! This day has entirely erased any memory of our sentence. Once upon a time, one gave birth in pain; now we are born without suffering. Once we were meat, we were born from meat; today what is born is spirit born of the Spirit. Yesterday, we were born weak sons of men; today we are born children of God. Yesterday we were thrown from heaven to earth; today, he who reigns in the heavens makes us citizens of heaven. Yesterday death reigned because of sin; today, thanks to Life, justice regains power.

Once upon a time, only one opened the door of death to us; today, only one brings us back to life. Yesterday, we had lost our lives because of death; but today life has destroyed death. Yesterday, shame made us hide under the fig tree; today glory draws us to the tree of life. Yesterday disobedience had kicked us out of Paradise; today, our faith allows us to enter it. Furthermore, the fruit of life is offered to us so that we enjoy it to our satisfaction. Again the source of Paradise that irrigates us with the four rivers of the Gospels (cf. Gen 2,10:XNUMX), comes to refresh the whole face of the Church. (...)

What should we do from this moment, if not to imitate in their joyful leaping the mountains and the hills of the prophecies: "The mountains hopped like rams, the hills like lambs!" (Ps 113,4). "Come, we applaud the Lord" (Ps 94,1). He broke the power of the enemy and raised the great trophy of the cross (...). We say therefore: "Great God is the Lord, great King over all the earth" (Ps 94,3; 46,3). He blessed the year by crowning it with its benefits (Ps 64,12), and gathers us in a spiritual choir, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Glory be to him forever and ever. Amen!