At the crucifixion, Jesus tells his mother, "Woman, here is your son",

and to the Beloved Disciple he says, "Here is your mother." 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

1 John 1:1-4

 This is what

Has been from the begin­ning, and what we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, I mean the Word who is Life…

 The Life made itself known, we have seen Eternal Life and we bear witness, and we are telling you of it. It was with the Father and made himself known to us.

 So we tell you what we have seen and heard, that you may be in fellowship with us, and us, with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. And we write this that our joy may be complete.

 

Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 20:1a & 2-8

 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.

 

Gospel Reflection：

No darkness can still the courage of the one who loves. Mary of Magdala immediately rushed to the tomb of the Lord after the Sabbath ended to wash and anoint His body. She wants to give her Lord and Master a proper burial despite their precarious position. All but a few have abandoned Jesus.

The religious and political authorities all ganged up to kill Jesus. The masses were mere pawns in this injustice, easily manipulated. But Mary of Magdala pressed on, oblivious of danger. And when she sees the stone rolled away, she thinks the worst.

They have taken the body of Jesus. And so she ran to tell the apostles about it. Immediately, Peter and the beloved disciple run in haste towards the tomb. But John outran Peter. For love is always faster than authority. But true love respects authority.

So John waited for Peter so that Peter could enter the empty tomb first. And what they see inside transforms them. The tomb now empty does not signify loss but the birth of hope.