"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."

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Act 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 Matthew 28:1-10) (or 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 Jesus must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.

   

Lectio Divina

New Beginnings

 Read: Peter addresses the crowd, inviting them to repentance and forgiveness. Paul speaks of our hidden life in Christ. John presents us with the empty tomb.

 Reflect: John reaches the tomb first (mentioned twice, as if to remind us); but he waits, lets Peter enter first. John, a son of thunder and a compulsively competitive man who, with his brother, bested the other disciples to ask for seats of prominence in the Kingdom (Mk 10:37);

Who once jealously stopped a stranger from healing in Jesus' name because he wasn't one among them (Lk 9:49); who once wanted fire to come down and burn up a Samaritan village because it was not hospitable (Lk 9: 54), is now willing to let Peter exercise primacy!

Only after Peter enters and verifies, John will enter. Where has the rivalry, jealousy, treacherous competitiveness gone? Perhaps it left the moment he rested his head on the breast of the Lord; or stood at the foot of the Cross, getting drenched in the blood from above. This is what the Paschal Mystery does: to change our lives 180 degrees.

 Pray: Don't ask for anything today. Just speak words of gratitude and more gratitude.

 Act: Invite someone less fortunate than you to share the Easter joy with your family/community.