John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
"Whom are you looking for?"
Where were we last week? Did we live it with Christ? How?
We are invited to follow Christ the Lord during His last week in earthly Jerusalem and concentrate on the most significant events that He lived.
To start with, Lazarus was brought back to life, then the conspiracy of the Jewish leaders to kill Him started, John 11:47-50
Palm Sunday and the Cleansing of the Temple, Luke 19:45-48
The Institution of the Holy Eucharist, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25
Jesus prays for the unity of His Church, John 17:20-26
Jesus is arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane after Judas' kiss of betrayal, Matthew 26:48-54, and Jesus' reaction according to St. John 18:4-9
The Sanhedrin condemns Jesus to death for blasphemy, Matthew 26:57-68
Jesus in the presence of Pilate, Matthew 27:11-26
Jesus before Herod Antipas, Luke 23:6-12
Jesus carries His cross to Calvary, John 19:17
Jesus is crucified and speaks His last 7 words on the Cross (in all 4 Gospels)
Jesus prays for the forgiveness of His crucifiers, Luke 23:34
Jesus entrusts His Mother to John, and John to His Mother, John 19:26-27
Jesus dies on the Cross, Mark 15:21-41
Blood and water flow from Jesus' side, John 19:34
Joseph and Nicodemus bury Jesus' body, John 19:38-42
Jesus' tomb was sealed and guarded by soldiers that were sent by the Jewish high priests, Matthew 27:62-66
The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee up to Jerusalem watched where they buried Him, Luke 23:55
These are the main events that Jesus lived in His last week in Jerusalem.
The disciples were scattered in fear, feeling disappointed, hopeless and confused about this Messiah whom they have accompanied for more than three years. They expected Him to liberate Israel from the Roman occupation and restore an endless earthly kingdom, yet He was crucified, died and buried.
Looking for Jesus' dead body in the tomb, the women were surprised by two angels who said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen.” Luke 24:5-6
None of the Evangelists mentions that Jesus' Mother went to the tomb, although according to custom, she was supposed to be among the first to go with the friendly women. She trusts her son and His words that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day, Luke 24:7
"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24
By His Cross we are redeemed and by His Resurrection we are saved. The risen Christ is our true life, our joy and our hope. We are called to witness to His Resurrection throughout our daily life.
Whom are we looking for, a historical, dead Jesus or a Living, Present Christ?
Blessed Holy and Glorious Resurrection!
May we trust Jesus as His Mother did!
He is risen indeed, Halleluia!