on the morning of the Resurrection,
Eugène Burnand
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
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.
Today’s Gospel by John describes the discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John. The passage begins with Mary Magdalene arriving at the tomb early on the first day of the week. She sees that the stone has been rolled away from the entrance and runs to tell Peter and the other disciple. Peter and the other disciple go to the tomb and see that the linen cloths are lying there, but the body of Jesus is gone. At the end of the passage, John enters the empty tomb and sees and believes that Jesus has risen from the dead. It is evidence of Jesus’ historical resurrection, a central tenet of the Catholic faith, but also an example of discipleship. Despite following Jesus as his closest disciples, it wasn’t until Peter and John entered the darkness of the empty tomb to see and believe in the Scripture—that Jesus had to rise from the dead. As a disciple of Jesus, I have to stop and consider how to increase my faith, where I need to see and believe.
God, help me understand the glory of the resurrection. In the empty tomb, the risen Christ has conquered death and is alive today just as he was when he rose from the dead two thousand years ago. He is the first, the one who goes before me in the hope of my own resurrection and salvation through him. It is a kind of veiled hope in this life, which quietly calls me toward you day after day in the bold, resounding hope that one day I, like your Son, will be with you forever in your glory. As Saint Paul says, “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” Christ has risen, and in him is undying hope. Father, give me the grace of discipleship to see and believe in hope made visible through the glory of his resurrection.
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.