The Lord Jesus, by his Resurrection, became the Lord of the whole universe and of all our history. This is the announcement of the most marvelous work of God, the peak moment of many other marvels which have been manifested during the history of humanity. For the apostles it was something incredible, unexpected. It left them, at first hand, unbelieving.
St. Ignatius said that we should “ask for the grace to rejoice profoundly for the glory and joy of Christ”. It seems to me that we do not think sufficiently about what his Resurrection meant for Jesus. In truth, it is just and necessary, good and right, to rejoice with the Lord for the immense joy which He experienced on this day, when he arose from the dead. In the first place, I believe that He was full of joy for the Glory which His Father had received and manifested to the whole world. Also, he was overflowing with joy for the fruitfulness of his victory for our benefit and that of all humanity. Someone noted that only after the Resurrection did Jesus refer to his disciples as “brothers”.
This good news of the Resurrection of Jesus is so great for the salvation of the world, that, like liberated slaves, we are dazed with the new liberty. If for ordinary reasons, we celebrate small victories in the lives of dear ones, like birthdays, the victory of a game, of an examination, a promotion at work, with much more reason we should celebrate and rejoice with Jesus for his Resurrection. We like to rejoice with the joy of a friend, a companion, or fellow citizen. La victory of Jesus is indeed incomparably greater and more important. Therefore, today, let us look intently, for a long moment, at the Glorious Face of the Risen One. Let us contemplate his joy and satisfaction because now, “when He arose from the dead, he was constituted Son of God, with power by the work of the Holy Spirit.” He has power to communicate to us the Holy Spirit, to make us sons/daughters of God. We are sons/daughters in THE SON; for this reason he calls us his brothers and sisters.
During the Last Supper, Jesus asked the Father that his disciples “have in them the fullness of joy”. On two more occasions he spoke about this joy. “I have spoken of these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy be perfect.” Also, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my Name: Ask and you shall receive, and your joy will be complete.” The Glory and the Joy of the Risen Lord is the fountain of Christian joy.
If the Risen Lord lives in us, there is no room for sadness. The presence of the Risen One, for now, does not do away with all suffering and pain, but beyond these, in the deepest part of our being, there is peace; at least there is a ray of light, of joy and of living hope.
This Resurrection opens for us that which we most seek; the most profound longing of our being: the desire for life, and life in plenitude; eternal life and joy. Jesus has passed on to a new, immortal life: he can no long die; death can no more have dominion over Him.
It was difficult for the apostles to recognize the Risen Jesus. Even though He was the same Person, there was something different. Something fundamental had changed, something marvelous. We also are called to this new and immortal life, after this mortal life. His Resurrection is the model of our future state.
During this Holy Day, we ask for the happiness to rejoice with his joy.  This disinterested joy is born of pure love. He feeds us in this Eucharist with his Body and Blood, the food of eternal, immortal life. Above all, let us be grateful.
Each Eucharist is a great act of Thanksgiving to the Father, for the Resurrection of Christ. When we receive Communion, we are in union with the Risen Jesus and, according to the capacity of each one, He communicates the new life which emanates from his Divine Person. This is the GOOD NEWS, THE GOSPEL, which confirms our hearts in hope.

Fr. Jorge Peterson o.c.s.o.
Santa María de Miraflores
Chile