First Reading

Reading from the book of the Song of Songs

Song 3, 1-4

This is what the bride says:
«On my bed at night,
I sought the one I love.
I sought him, but did not find him.
I will rise and go through the city,
through its streets and squares,
seeking the one my heart loves.

I sought him, but did not find him.
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
‘Have you seen the one my heart loves?’ I asked.
Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.»

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to John

John 20, 1-2. 11-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, «They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.»

Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, «Woman, why are you crying?» «They have taken my Lord away,» she said, «and I don’t know where they have put him.»

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, «Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?» Thinking he was the gardener, she said, «Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him.» Jesus said to her, «Mary.» She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, «Rabboni!» (which means «Teacher»). Jesus said, «Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'»

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: «I have seen the Lord!» And she told them that he had said these things to her.