Reflection for April 20 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:

Imagine you were in the situation of Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Would you have been worried as they were upon seeing that Jesus was no longer in the tomb? Of course! It is simply the normal human reaction—you would feel bewildered and worried as well.

But what if they had known beforehand that Jesus would rise from the dead after three days? Would they have been as apprehensive? Of course not. They would have been excited and in a celebratory mode, for their expectation would already be fulfilled.

This is what separates us now from Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter, and John (the beloved disciple), because during their time, they did not know that Jesus had risen. It was only during the succeeding events that transpired that they received the revelation of His resurrection.

Notwithstanding the gloom that is brought about by the current economic downturn, notwithstanding the harshness of life that we are presently passing through, we who know about the resurrection of Jesus must still be joyful.

For the reason that we have a God who gave His life on the cross for our sake. We have a God who loves us so dearly, and we have a God who forgives us of our sinfulness, no matter how severe.

This Easter Sunday, the Risen Christ invites us to rise with Him— to be His living witnesses in a world that longs for light. He calls us to walk boldly in faith, to shine with hope, and to bring comfort and courage to those facing life’s hardest battles. – Marino J. Dasmarinas