Rosary: The Resurrection
The First Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
The First Glorious Mystery of the Rosary: The Resurrection
Feast Day: Easter Sunday & Every Other Day of the Year
Luke 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the Body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered His words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
This first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary highlights the Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday. Sin and death no more have dominion over mankind. Both have been vanquished by Our Lord through His Resurrection. Mankind has been reconciled to God through the sacrifice of the Cross and the Resurrection of the Paschal Lamb of God. All the powers of darkness have no more control over us through His Cross and Resurrection. This is the greatest event in history as God breaks the chains of death and steps out of the tomb on Easter (Pasch) morning! Alleluia!
John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the Body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that He had said these things to her.
It seems common to us today, because we have been raised in a world where the Resurrection of Christ is openly proclaimed. But imagine yourself in Mary Magdalene’s shoes. Her Lord has been crucified. She has been mourning Him all night of Good Friday and all Holy Saturday. This faithful and humble woman is about to witness the greatest event in human history. How many times have you witnessed something so shocking that you had trouble even comprehending it?
Mary Magdalene sees two angels in the tomb. She sees the tomb empty, yet her mind and heart cannot wrap itself around the fact that He is risen. It is only when confronted by Christ Himself does it finally hit her. And she is not alone. The Apostles as well refused to believe. Even though they had been with Our Lord for three years, watching Him perform miracle after miracle, they still had trouble believing it. This is the key to the Christian faith and all of reality. You must really think down deep to question yourself. Do you believe that Jesus resurrected and rose from the dead? Do you believe the tomb was empty? Do you believe that He is God and has power over sin and death?
Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from Heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He has been raised, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him.’ This is my message for you.” 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.”
Something to remember in these accounts of the Resurrection, they are not in contradiction or disagreement. They each tell varying points of the greatest event in human history. Just because one fact in one account is not mentioned in another, is not a contradiction. The various angels that they disciples met had to tell them several times that Jesus was risen. Jesus Himself had to appear to them multiple times to prove He was alive again. Do not doubt, but believe. Do you believe that Jesus rose from the grave? He did and we hold hope He will also raise us from the dead at His Second Coming.
Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; He is not here. Look, there is the place they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
The Shorter Ending of Mark
[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus Himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]
The Longer Ending of Mark
9 Now after He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went out and told those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12 After this He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Satan, the demons and sin hold no more power over mankind. If you will only believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him. He has left us His Church and the sacraments whereby we can participate in the New Covenant to find forgiveness of our sins and the hope of our own resurrection. Eternal life is waiting for you if you will only listen, believe, have faith and obey Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.
The Christian faith is about a real time, and a real place, where the Son came down from Heaven and dwelt among us. It is about Our Lord willingly offering up Himself as the Paschal Sacrifice of the New Covenant, so that mankind could be forgiven of all our sins and reconciled to God. It is about the grace of God pouring from the wounds of Christ on the Cross, to give new resurrected life to our bodies and souls. The New Covenant with God is offered to us free of charge, but it costs us everything. We must give up all our sins, and in return, He offers us all of His grace that we can want. Choose wisely.
Links to the other Mysteries of the Rosary
JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (coming soon)
SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
First Glorious Mystery - The Resurrection (coming soon)
Second Glorious Mystery - The Ascension of Christ (coming soon)
Third Glorious Mystery - The Descent of the Holy Ghost (coming soon)
LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
Second Luminous Mystery - The Wedding at Cana (coming soon)
Third Luminous Mystery - The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (coming soon)
Fourth Luminous Mystery - The Transfiguration (coming soon)