John 20:1-18
1 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.
Looking for Jesus
This Sunday, we are invited to look for Jesus, but how? and where?
Through a deep concentration on the narrations of the Evangelists in the Gospels, we can get closer to the living Christ.
Shall we join the women who accompanied Jesus from Galilee (Luke 23:55), going to the tomb and carrying aromatic spices to anoint a buried body, a dead Jesus?
Empty tomb, Church of the Holy Sepulchre/Resurrection - Jerusalem.
If we join this group, let us listen to the angels asking, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is Risen!" Luke 24:5-6. Then they turned their backs on the tomb, went and told all this to the eleven and the others who had been with Him, Luke 24:8-9.
St. John describes the scene with Mary of Magdala, who went to the tomb, found the stone taken away, and ran to tell Simon Peter and John. "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him" in John 20:2. Again she is speaking about a dead and buried Jesus.
Coming back to the tomb, she turned and noticed Jesus standing there, but did not realize that it was Him. When He called her by name, her eyes were opened.
In both cases, the women and the disciples were running to the tomb looking for their dead and buried Jesus. He was not there. He is not there, the Living Christ is not among the dead.
A second perspective is taken from the silence of the Evangelists, who do not mention Jesus' Mother going to the tomb. Local customs and tradition would see her being the first to lead the team of the myrrh-carrying visitors heading early morning to the grave.
The mother of Jesus had full trust in her son's promise in Matthew 17:22-23 "The Son of Man is going to be handed over to the power of men. And on the third day he will be raised to life again" and in Luke 18:32-33, "The Son of Man will be handed over to be beaten, and he is going to be jeered at and insulted and spat on, and then they will flog him and kill him. But he will rise again on the third day."
The mother of Jesus knows who her Son is and all that He says is true. Matthew 28:6, "But the angel spoke to the women, 'Don't be afraid, I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, he is not here-he is risen, just as he said.'" Luke 24:6, "Remember what he said to you, while he was still in Galilee-that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and must be crucified, and must rise again on the third day." Trust Jesus, He is Risen as He said.
We are called to celebrate the Living Jesus Christ today and to witness for His Resurrection as the women who went to the tomb did. They became apostles to the apostles. Trust His words and promises as His mother did.
Dear individuals, families, friends, Church congregations and all the people of God, let us rejoice in this day. Seek and retrieve internal peace. Have the courage to encourage others to keep faith and trust in the Living Crucified and Risen Lord. May we keep looking for Jesus every day and witnessing for His Resurrection.
Christ is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!