April 1, 2018
Readings:
First Reading; Acts of the Apostles 10:
34a, 37-43
Psalm: 118
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4 (or 1
Corinthians 5: 6b-8)
Gospel reading according to John (20:
1-9)
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Homily:
The Resurrection of Jesus and the
Empty Tomb
Early in the morning after Sabbath,
without seeing yet the dawn, we can see Mary Magdalene in a hurry. She was alone. She was going to the tomb where Jesus was
buried. We do not know her purpose in
going there while it was still dark and she’s all alone. Maybe her companions were still searching for
spices to be used in anointing the dead body of Jesus, while she came early in
the tomb. She cannot wait any
longer. She wanted to see the dead body
of Jesus, maybe to clean it while waiting for the spices bought and brought in
by the other women companions. “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” (John 20: 1). Suddenly, she stopped for she noticed the
stone cover of the tomb was removed.
Something happened which she cannot
explained. So she decided to report the
incident to Jesus’ disciples – Simon Peter and the beloved disciple, John. “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’.” (John 20: 2), while at that moment they were hiding from
the authorities, for they were afraid that they might be arrested as they did
to their Leader and Master.
But when they heard the news that
somebody took the body of Jesus and hid it away, their fear of arrest was gone
but instead it was replaced of courage.
So, they came out from hiding and went to the place where Jesus was
buried. “So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb”
(John 20: 3).
As if in marathon, they made a
race. While running, maybe they were
laughing or crying, rejoicing or nervous, with mixed feelings covering their
whole beings. “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” (John 20: 4-5). Because John is
younger and stronger than Simon Peter, he reached first the tomb; he looked
from the outside but did not go inside.
He just waited until the coming of Peter, and when Peter entered the
tomb, that’s the time John entered, as a sign of respect for the leadership of
Peter. “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” (John 20: 6-7). What they saw was only the burial cloths and
the cloth that covered his head rolled up and in a separated 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” (John 20:
8-9). This time, they understood the
Scriptures and they believed to what Jesus said to them while he was still with
them. The Lord is truly resurrected and
raised from the dead for our sake and salvation. And now he lives forever until the end of
time.
