＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

 Peter then spoke to them,

“Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality, No doubt you have heard of the event that occurred throughout the whole country of the Jews, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism John preached. 

You know how God anointed Jesus the Naza­rean with Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all who were under the devil’s power, because God was with him; we are wit­nesses of all that he did through­out the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem itself. Yet they put him to death by hanging him on a wood­en cross.

 But God raised him to life on the third day and let him manifest himself, not to all the people, but to the witnesses that were chosen beforehand by God – to us who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from death.

 And he commanded us to preach to the peo­­ple and to bear witness that he is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets say of him, that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his Name.”

 

Ps 118:1-2,  16-17. 22-23

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Colossians 3:1-4 (or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8)

 So then, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in Glory.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 20:1-9 (or Mark 16:1-7 or Evening Luke 24:13-35)

 Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.”

 Peter then set out with the other dis­ciple to go to the tomb. They ran to­gether but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.

 Then Simon Peter came following him and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head was not lying flat like the other linen cloths but lay rolled up in its place.

 Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that he must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read: Early morning on a Sunday after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdalene hurried to the tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea for the body of Jesus hastily taken from the cross so that it won't have to stay hanging there during the Sabbath.

She planned to clean it for burial. What she saw was an empty tomb and concluded the worst - that the body of Jesus was taken away. She informed the apostles Peter and John who run towards the tomb to verify. Although the beloved disciple came first, he waited for Peter to enter the tomb. There they both find it empty except for the wrappings used to cover the body of Jesus.

Reflect: Mary of Magdala is portrayed prominently because of her courageous love for her Master. She walks alone early morning to the Tomb of Jesus to clean his body for a proper burial.

Such concern amidst the vulnerable position they are in now as followers of Jesus made her strong to rise above her fears and concern for personal safety. All she has in mind is for the body of the Lord to receive proper care before burial.

So why risk it all? What is the point when everything is ended with the death of Jesus? This is where we see how deep was the impact of the Lord in the life of His believers. He touched them so deeply that not even death could separate them from him.

This and the latter action of Mary in reporting that the body of the Lord was taken attests that the early disciples did not grasp the teaching of Jesus about the Messiah. They did not believe that He would resurrect again.

So the empty tomb instead of becoming a source of Joy stoked their fears that the dead body of the Lord had been abducted - a possibility if one does not believe that Jesus will rise again. The empty tomb is the start of a marvelous conversation between Jesus and His disciples.

Respond: How do we react when we find something empty? Our life, our works, our relationship and the likes. Do we run away in fear or explore what wonders might be hidden in the empty tombs of our lives? We need not always fear emptiness in our lives. Sometimes it holds the promise of a new life far better than our previous one.