Easter Sunday: Resurrection of the Lord
Jn 20: 1-9
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she 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.”
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Running Toward God’s Confusing Joy
Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Today is our day of triumph, jubilation, and wonder. Sin and death have been conquered. Let us feast with joy in the Lord!
So awesome is the news of Jesus’ resurrection, it is hard to wrap our minds around it. The apostles of today’s Gospel reading are surely struck with awe, but perhaps also confusion, fear and uncertainty. It will take some time for them to better understand what has happened. Even though we have faith and know the truth of the resurrection, we will continue to learn what resurrection means throughout our lives.
Our life, like the apostles’ heading towards the tomb, is one of running towards God’s confusing joy.
—David J. M. Herr, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic in the Midwest Province studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.
Prayer
Lord,
Send us running to the tombs you have left empty.
Reveal your resurrection to us in your surprising ways.
Compel us to share your news. We can hardly wait.
Amen
—David J. M. Herr, SJ