Reflection

Gospel

Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord

On Sunday morning whilst it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran to Simon, Peter and to Jesus’ favourite disciple and said, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We do not know where they have put him.’  Peter and the other disciples started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.                     When Simon got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw a piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus’ face. It was rolled up and placed by itself. The disciples that had got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life.                                                                                              John 20: 1- 9 

Reflection

Whenever we share compassion, justice, reconciliation, faith, and encourage each other to be people of hope, we are people of the resurrection and ministers of the resurrection. Jesus is raised from death each time we live his way of life. We do this in our various ways of showing care and concern for the lives and troubles of others. The tomb was empty and, for the faithful ones, this was a sign of new life. Some would remember Jesus saying he would rise from death. Others would feel down, cheated or just lost. It is the same with ourselves: the tough times of life can bring us close to God, or distance us; suffering can make us better people, or make us bitter and isolated. We may feel a bit of both at times. The empty tomb is the message that nothing is final in this life, not even death. God's love is stronger than any human power, violence or cruelty. Love conquers all.It is the 'first day of the week'. Mary Magdalene is the first witness of an event which marks not just the beginning of a new week but the transformation of human history. But 'it is still dark' and she does not yet understand what has happened. Peter and the other disciple, who had stood faithfully beneath the cross, ran to the tomb. The other disciple saw and believed. Peter, whose last recorded action was to deny Jesus, still does not believe. What blocks us from fuller faith?

Julie Leonard Religious Education Leader/Wellbeing Leader