“When Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

Genesis 5:32

3rd Easter of Easter

Luke 24:35-48

Our gospel continues with the many disciples of Jesus running to tell others about the Good New of the Resurrection. The disappointed disciples of Emmaus return in joy to Jerusalem. They recognized the Risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread. As they end their witness to God's favor upon them, Jesus appears to the gathering and flood their hearts with hope once more. Jesus challenges his disciples to follow the example of the men returning from Emmaus - and run to tell the world about His message.
Who can have a privileged encounter with Jesus and not want to tell the world? An encounter with God sets our hearts to racing and our feet to running. Just as Mary ran to Elizabeth in her response to the Annunciation, hearts ablaze with God's excitement and joy cannot keep it to themselves. Just as Mary, the Mother of Jesus, ran to tell of the savior in her womb, Easter morning opens with Mary Magdala running to tell the other disciples that Jesus had risen from the tomb. From womb to tomb, our response to a God encounter is to run and tell the world.