GOSPEL READING:
John 20:1a, 2-81a Now on the first day of the week 2 [Mary Magdelan] ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.
Meditation: What was it like for those who encountered
the only begotten Son of God in human form? John, the beloved
disciple of Jesus, wrote his Gospel as an eye-witness of the
Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John
1:1,14), and who died and rose for our salvation. John was the
first apostle to reach the tomb of Jesus on Easter Sunday morning.
Like the other disciples, he was not ready to see an empty tomb
and to hear the angel's message, Why do you seek the living
among the dead (Luke 24:5)?
The Lord Jesus came to set us free from sin and death and
give us everlasting life
What did John see in the tomb that led him to believe in the
resurrection of Jesus? It was certainly not a dead body. The dead
body of Jesus would have dis-proven the resurrection and made his
death a tragic conclusion to a glorious career as a great teacher
and miracle worker. When John saw the empty tomb he must have
recalled Jesus' prophecy that he would rise again after three
days. Through the gift of faith John realized that no tomb on
earth could contain the Lord and giver of life.
Jesus is the eternal Son of the Father and the Savior who
died and rose for us
John in his first epistle testifies: What we have seen,
heard, and touched we proclaim as the word of life which existed
"from the beginning" (1 John 1:1-4). John bears witness to
what has existed from all eternity. This "Word of Life" is Jesus
the Word Incarnate, but also Jesus as the word announced by the
prophets and Jesus the word now preached throughout the Christian
churches for all ages to come. One thing is certain, if Jesus had
not risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples, we would
never have heard of him. Nothing else could have changed sad and
despairing men and women into people radiant with joy and courage.
The reality of the resurrection is the central fact of the
Christian faith. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Lord
gives us "eyes of faith" to know him and the power of his
resurrection. The greatest joy we can have is to encounter the
living Jesus Christ and to know him personally as our Savior and
Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, you have triumphed over the grave and you have won new life for us. Give me the eyes of faith to see you in your glory. Help me to draw near to you and to grow in the knowledge of your great love and power that sets us free to love and serve you now and forever in your everlasting kingdom.
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Word of Life was seen and touched, by Severus of Antioch (488-538 AD)
"Given that this same John also said, 'No one has ever seen God' (John 1:18, 1 John 1:4:12), how can he assure us that the living Word of Life has been seen and touched? It is clear that it was in his incarnate and human form that he was visible and touchable. What was not true of him by nature became true of him in that way, for he is one and the same indivisible Word, both visible and invisible, and without diminishing in either respect he became touchable in both his divine-human nature. For he worked his miracles in his divinity and suffered for us in his humanity." (excerpt from CATENA)
