Daily Gospel Reflection
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April 4, 2021
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.
Are you out of breath just hearing today’s gospel?
Mary ran to Peter; Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb, though not even keeping together (John subtly notes, ‘the other disciple outran Peter”).
Running, panting, faster running…
The disciples ran because they wanted to see the tomb outside Jerusalem’s walls where Jesus’ dead body had been buried. Have you experienced any ‘deadness’ in your life- a deadness of discouragement, of indifference, of pain, or of grief? Maybe there has been ‘deadness’ in a family relationship, in the culture of our work or school, or in part of your heart? These situations can be imagined as also being placed in the tomb with our Lord’s body on Good Friday–sealed behind the stone, covered over, and perhaps to be forgotten.
But now…hear Mary (not yet understanding) announce: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb…” Have you heard the news? The tomb has been opened!
RUN with Peter and John to see the tomb – is everything as you left it? LOOK with John who “went in…and believed”. SEE how things appear now: sunlight shines, scattering darkness, and the burial cloths are folded up The ‘deadness’ they once wrapped–including those own areas of our lives we mourn as spiritless and dead–are bound up no longer. JESUS IS ALIVE!
Jesus Christ, through his glorious cross and triumph over sin, offers us eternal life after our earthly death – thanks be to God for this unfathomable gift! Yet, Jesus offers us even more than this: He offers his resurrected life to us TODAY – for our lives and families as they are right now. NOW there are people in our homes who need to experience the joy, hope, and peace of the Risen Lord. Let us rejoice today and like the disciples, RUN to share with others this Good News!
Prayer
Lord, John the apostle “saw and believed” when he entered the empty tomb. His faith told him that you had indeed risen from the dead. Assist us, Lord, when our faith is weak and we do not know what to believe. Help us to know that you have indeed risen and are now with us always. Amen.
Saint of the Day
After Saturday evening, when the Easter vigil is celebrated in anticipation of the Lord’s resurrection, the Church rejoices in the gift of new life with this feast, the high point of the Church year.
Saturday night and Sunday, the Church marks the central moment of our salvation from death—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who have been preparing to enter the Church are baptized at the Easter Vigil because the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the very mystery that they are entering—it is the mystery that marks the life of anyone who has been baptized.
Sunday begins the Easter octave—a period of eight days, Sunday to Sunday—during which we celebrate the saving event of Jesus’ resurrection. According to the Church year, this whole week collapses into one single day, and the liturgy on each day of this week is a full-hearted, joyful celebration of Easter all over again. After the Easter octave, we will begin the Easter season, which lasts 50 days and culminates in Pentecost.
For the first time since Lent began, the Church proclaims “Alleluia!” The Easter proclamation begins in this way:
Rejoice heavenly powers!
Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!
The reliquary chapel in the Basilica holds relics from the burial shroud that was left behind when the women and Jesus’ disciples found the empty tomb and first learned of his resurrection. The Siegfried Hall chapel contains a final station of the cross that depicts the resurrection (shown to the side), and the image of Jesus emerging from the tomb above comes from the tabernacle upon the altar in the Lady Chapel of the Basilica.
On this joyous feast of Easter, let us proclaim that Jesus is risen! He is truly risen! Alleluia!