As we get older, and yes, we are all getting older, we can recall all of the firsts from our life. As Catholics, one of the biggest "firsts" in our life was our First Communion, when we were able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time. A lot of us can also remember our first Reconciliation. Perhaps you can remember your first day of school. Or maybe you really remember the first time you drove a car by yourself. Some folks remember their first airplane ride, or the first house that they owned, or their first date. The first time that we ever experienced anything sticks out in our minds. And oftentimes, the first time, sets the tone for all of our experiences later on. Once we have that first experience, we can never have it again. And then all of our other experiences just blend together into life.

This reminds me of a story from the life of Mark Twain. Once when Twain was traveling, a man ran up to him in a train station, got right in his face, and said, "I wish that I had never read your book, Huckleberry Finn!" Perplexed, and a little fearful, Mark Twain asked the man "Why do say that?" "So that I could have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time," came the reply.

Most of us probably don't remember when the first time was that we heard the Resurrection story. For most of us, it has always been there. It is part of life. And every Easter of every year we listen to this story again at our celebration. And yet, what I really think that we need to do today is, we need to hear this story like we're hearing it for the very first time. This story must never become routine. It can never lose its awe, its wonder, and the hope that it brings.

The first Easter morning was a first for Mary Magdalene and her companions also. They had been to many tombs. These women knew what they were doing. They were on a mission. They had a job to do, and probably, they would be relieved when it was over. But when they arrived at the tomb, things were not as they ordinarily would have been. The stone was rolled away. The burial clothes were wadded up in the corner. And the body that they had come to anoint was gone. This was not what these women expected. This would be a day that they would remember for the rest of their lives. Jesus wasn't dead any more. And what do they do? They run and get Peter. And then Peter gets to experience the wonder of Easter. Not eggs, and candy, and bunnies, the wonder is the Resurrection. It is new life, a new chance, a fresh start. It was for Peter. It was for Mary Magdalene and the women two thousand years ago. And today it is the same for all of us.

Hearing this story again for the first time, let us take our cues from those who first heard it on that first Easter. What did they do? How did they respond? Well, the first message to them was that they were to not be afraid. Dead people coming back to life tends to terrify folks. This isn't new. You know, the notion of Jesus coming back from the dead wasn't exactly the most welcome notion to Peter, who had denied knowing Him three times. Sometimes, Jesus is easier to deal with if we keep Him dead. So the first message we get from that first Easter is to not be afraid. Because of Easter, we should never be afraid of anything ever again. The Resurrection gives us nerves of steel. Death is conquered. And if we don't have to worry about death, what is there to really worry about?

Secondly, no matter how many times we've heard this story, we can't fail to be awestruck by just what God did in that empty tomb! We can never lose the wonder! If God can do this, if there can be Resurrection to this story, then just think of how this God wants to amaze us with Resurrection if we would only let Him!

Thirdly, there is an evangelization component to all of this. Like Mary Magdalene and like Peter, we have to now go and tell others that the tomb was empty. Jesus lives. And why don't more people know that today? It's because we haven't told them! It's because we haven't let Him live in us. Today we've got to take the message out.

And finally, the Resurrection gives us high hopes. We are going to see Jesus again. Life is going to continue after death. Things are going to be better. We must never lose that hope. Our world is lost without it.

We hear this story today again for the first time. Let us take it into our hearts in new and greater ways. Today changes everything. again!

From Fr. Dale and myself, and our entire Parish and school staffs, we wish you a wonderful Easter. Enjoy all of the grace and peace of this holy season!

May God bless us on this great Feast, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN!!!

St. Maria Goretti… Pray for us !!!