Reflection for Sunday April 9, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord: John 20:1-9

Gospel: John 20:1-9

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.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a rich church going catholic who was very proud of his faith. Every Easter Sunday he would display on his porch a banner with the risen Jesus coming out of the tomb.  However, he was disliked by his poor neighbors because he treats them with disdain.

What does the empty tomb of Jesus signify to us? Does it signify a resurrection of life? We will answer yes of course for we know that Jesus has resurrected. But how did Mary of Magdala, the other women and the disciples of Jesus feel? Many thoughts were surely playing in their minds in fact Mary of Magdala cried for she was worried regarding the whereabouts of the body of Jesus.   

Unlike Mary of Magdala who during that time did not know yet the whereabouts of the body of Jesus. We know that Jesus has resurrected, thus we now close the curtains of His resurrection? Does it end with the resurrection story?

We do not close the story of Jesus’ resurrection we continue to relive it whenever we do the acts of Jesus. Such as His acts of: kindness, humility, self-sacrifice, love, forgiveness and the like. Through these acts we continuously perpetuate the resurrection of Jesus.

Surely many are still not aware of the resurrection of Jesus or even the name of Jesus. But whenever we do good, we impart Jesus and we tell them that Jesus is alive. That Jesus is ready to help them and lift them up from their sickness, lowliness and weariness.        

What have we done so far to tell others that Jesus is alive and risen? Have we given food to the poor? Have we forgiven someone who did us wrong?  Have we given hope to the hopeless? Have we done something to help the sick? Have we brought others closer to Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas