Daily Readings - Sun Apr 04 2021
John
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Sermon
In today’s Gospel, we witness the dramatic discovery of the empty tomb on that first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene, filled with grief and urgency, notices that the stone has been rolled away. She rushes to inform Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved. Their hurried journey to the tomb, with the other disciple reaching it first, sets the stage for a moment of profound faith. Upon entering the tomb, the disciple sees the neatly arranged linens and the separate cloth that had covered Jesus’ head. In that moment, he believes, even though he and Peter do not yet fully understand the Scriptures that foretold of Jesus’ resurrection.
This passage invites us to reflect on the interplay between doubt and faith. Mary’s initial alarm and the disciples’ haste reveal the confusion and uncertainty that often accompany moments of crisis. Yet, in the stillness of the tomb, the other disciple’s eyes are opened to the truth. The carefully placed linens and the separate cloth suggest an orderly and intentional act, not the chaotic aftermath of grave robbers. This detail speaks to the divine order of God’s plan, even when circumstances seem chaotic or unclear.
As we apply this to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith often begins in the midst of uncertainty. Like Mary and the disciples, we may encounter moments where the path ahead is shrouded in darkness. But it is precisely in these moments that we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when we do not fully understand it. The empty tomb is not just a historical event; it is a symbol of the hope that lies at the heart of our faith. Let us, like the other disciple, allow ourselves to see and believe, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. In doing so, we may discover that what initially seems like an ending is, in fact, a new beginning.