They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head,
was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in;
he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that Jesus must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.
REFLECTION:Read: All the readings of this day speak of one thing: the glory of God that has now been revealed through the vindication of Jesus risen from the dead.
Everything that Jesus did, everything he said, everything he taught had been to manifest the Father’s fidelity to his promise, not just to his Chosen People,
but to all of humanity that had been burdened by the weight of sin and the fear of death.
Reflect: There’s almost a giddiness in the Gospel’s description of what Mary,
Peter and the beloved disciple did after Mary saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved.
They ran together, but one “outran” the other. Imagine what it must have been like! It is the same kind of unbelievable joy that awaits all who believe.
Jesus himself has promised it. And it isn’t something that awaits us just at the end; in fact, it is something we can encounter, again and again,
here and now – when, as Paul tells us, we “set our minds on things that are above.” The joy of Easter can be found, here and now, when our hearts, minds,
bodies and souls, are anchored firmly in Christ.
Pray: Lord, give me the grace to remain rooted in your promise of life eternal, so that I may live it, here and now,
and experience its fullness when I see you face to face in your kingdom.
Act: Remind yourself that Christ alone remains, and the watch the worries and anxieties of life melt away. Choose to be happy,
choose to be joyful. Live the joy of Easter every day!
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020