John 20:1-9

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week,

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter

and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,

“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,

and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter

and arrived at the tomb first;

he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him,

he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,

and the cloth that had covered his head,

not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in,

the one who had arrived at the tomb first,

and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture

that he had to rise from the dead.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, the mystery of your Son’s Resurrection far surpasses my understanding. I am comforted seeing how Jesus’ disciples reacted in different ways to his Resurrection. Some were slow to believe, some needed a personal encounter, and some saw and believed. Bring me to a deep faith in Jesus’ Resurrection.

Encountering the Word of God

1. From Darkness to the Light of Faith: Light and darkness are major themes in the Gospel of John. They symbolize the struggle between good and evil, the contrast between life and death, and the difference between belief and unbelief. Jesus is the “true light” of God who overcomes the darkness (see John 1:4-5, 9). John points out that when Mary of Magdala goes to the tomb, “it was still dark” (John 20:1). The darkness lasts until she comes to faith in the risen Jesus. Mary’s first reaction to the open tomb is that someone must have broken in and stolen Jesus’ corpse. She remains in the darkness of disbelief, but when she later encounters the risen Jesus and hears her name she will pass into the light of faith (John 20:11-18). When Mary tells Peter and John about the opened tomb, they set out and run to it. Luke 24:12 confirms that when Peter saw the linen cloths in the tomb, he didn’t immediately make an act of faith in Jesus’ Resurrection. He went home wondering about what had happened. This shows that he was slower to believe than John, who reached the tomb first. When Peter saw the burial cloths, which were likely rigid from the embalming fluids and mixture of myrrh and aloes, and the head cloth rolled up, it made him ponder. If someone had broken into the tomb and taken the body, they likely would not have taken the time to remove the burial cloth and roll up the cloth covering Jesus’ face. This all pointed to the conclusion that Jesus’ body was not stolen. But the question as to what actually happened remained. When John saw the empty tomb and the same burial cloths he believed. Mary of Magdala, Peter, and John all saw the same signs of the Resurrection but came to believe at different speeds and in different ways. John begins to believe without seeing the risen Jesus. Mary believed by hearing Jesus’ voice call her name and encountering him in the garden. Peter also came to believe by encountering the risen Jesus.

2. Peter’s Sermon to Gentiles: The First Reading contains part of Peter’s sermon to the Gentiles (Acts 10:34-43). Earlier in the Acts of the Apostles, on the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed the Gospel to the people of Judea and Jerusalem (Acts 2:14-36). In this sermon, Peter references the baptism of repentance by John and summarizes the public ministry of Jesus. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. Jesus’ mighty works testify to the authenticity of his message of salvation for all peoples. In his sermon to the Judeans, Peter ended it by proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Messiah. In this sermon, to the Gentiles, he concludes that Jesus will judge both the living and the dead. All people, and not just the people of Israel, who believe in Jesus will receive the forgiveness of their sins.

3. Raised with Christ: In his Letter to the Colossians Paul invites the Christian community to resist the temptation to return to the pagan lifestyle they left behind. He wants them to reflect on what being raised with Christ means for them. They are to seek what is above and think of what is above. They are to seek God and Christ, who is enthroned at God’s right hand. When Christ appears at his second coming, they will share fully in divine glory. In this life, they have a share in divine life and glory but only in an imperfect and hidden way. Our life here on earth is a preparation for the day when God’s glory will be fully revealed (see Dennis Hamm, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, p. 211).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, on this Easter Sunday, help me to seek the things that are above and keep them ever present before my mind. You have raised me up to new life and made me a new creation through the sacrament of baptism. One day, you will bring me into your heavenly glory.

Living the Word of God: On this Easter Sunday, contemplate your journey of faith. When did you first believe in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ? When has your faith been tested? Is there anything testing your faith today? Ask God today for the gift of a deeper faith: “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief!”