Easter Sunday: Gospel reflections  Year B

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." 

· Because of the Sabbath she could not go to the tomb until after sunset. But before she did she probably went to buy some oil to properly anoint the body. As a result it was early in the morning before she arrived at the tomb.

· Seeing the stone removed from the entrance, she presumed that the body was removed.

· She knew where to find Peter and John. They were hiding out in the Upper Room.

· “The other disciple whom Jesus loved” This is the way that John refers to himself in his Gospel.

· Notice in this Gospel account Mary of Magdala is said to have gone to the tomb alone, while the other Gospel indicate other women were with her. The fact that she says to Peter “we don’t know where they put him” indicates others were with her.

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.  

· Why do you think the other disciple did not go in before Peter? Was it respect for age or was it that he recognized Peter’s role as leader of the 12 appointed by Jesus?

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

· A major theme in John’s Gospel is that of faith in Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

· What has been your journey of faith in Jesus? Where did it actually begin? Where is it now? Is your faith journey completed yet or is there a deeper level of faith still ahead?

· Though faith is a grace and gift, what has faith called forth from you?

For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 

· What does it mean that John “saw and believed” if he still did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead?

· It wasn’t until the Easter appearance of Jesus did they began to understand.

· Place yourself in the scene. What would your reaction be, given the same circumstances?

· Even though we don’t understand everything about Jesus, is our faith in him still real?

· What experiences have you had that has strengthened your faith?

· What resolution should this Gospel narrative lead you to make?