April 16, 2017

Gospel: Jn 20:1-9 (or Mt 28:1-10 )

Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.”
Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. 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: Emboldened Peter testifies to the truth of the Resurrection. We now share in the life of Christ–in his death and resurrection. John narrates the story of the Empty Cave–the evidence to the Resurrection of Christ.
Reflect: Can emptiness reveal fullness? The event of the Empty Cave seems to point to such a possibility. The emptiness of the cave points to the fullness of life eternal for us. Perhaps we need to create emptiness in certain areas of our lives so that fullness can result. What prevents us from doing so?
Pray: Ask God for the fruits of the Resurrection in abundance.
Act: Reach out to someone in tomblike existence and help him/her experience resurrectional energies.