Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20, 1a; 2-8
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 towards 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.
Be a witness of the risen Lord
1) They went out. This is John’s attitude. He is a young, strong apostle. And like every young person, he puts passion into what he does. As Christians we should be passionate about our faith and enthusiastically share it with others. John believes in the Master and constantly searches for Him. I believe you’re going to do the same thing: believe in our Master and always search for him. John bore the moment of the Crucifixion, alone with Mary; he put up with criticism and humiliation, like many Christians do nowadays. Christians are persecuted for their faith all over the world these days. But John withstood the moment of the Crucifixion and now he goes out to confirm that his Master is alive, that Christ lives and reigns and that death has been defeated. Today we have to go out, like John. Let’s stop running around in circles, doing the same thing over and over, wasting time. Let’s go out because Christ is risen, let’s go out and find Jesus because he is alive and find the people who are ‘dead’ so that they can ‘come alive’ with Jesus. Go out, walk, run, and spread the joy of being a Christian. Be cheerful and be youthful. Put passion into what you do, that’s where your strength is, that’s where your faith is, where Christ is alive and risen.
2) He saw. Today, see Jesus again. Try to ‘get together’ with him. Rekindle that life. Remember that moment when He gave you life: at a retreat, at a Mass, or through someone’s testimony. There are so many ways Jesus can touch people’s lives. Think of the moment when Jesus marked your life. Today, the linen cloths and the bandages are on the floor, but still they are in order. Christ has already redeemed you. He has removed what binds you. With Him, and in time everything will be in order if you put your life in His hands. Have faith, trust in Jesus Christ. Look around you and see that there is light. Let the bandages fall from your eyes; look at what you are, and look in the mirror and notice that you are free, that nothing binds you. Don’t let anything or anyone make you their slave. Jesus has redeemed you and calls you a “Child of God,” because he wants you to be free. He wants you to be His brother or sister, God’s child.
3) Believing. I love the Pope’s phrase “a faith without a crisis is a crisis of faith.” Believing is a process and we walk along the path of faith. There won’t always be a full Wi-Fi connection with God in Heaven. There will be moments when prayer will be hard for you, or you will even not feel like praying at all. Educate yourself in the faith you believe in, read the life of the Saints, study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and talk to someone about your doubts. That’s the nice thing about our faith, we can delve into the Word of God to discover the answers to things and find explanations. That is theology. But live, because your life and mine is believing, celebrating life, and living to pray.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Always remember, Heaven is our goal!
