Gospel Reading for April 20, 2025 – John 20: 1-9
EMPTY TOMB
Easter Sunday of the
Lord’s Resurrection
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.” 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. 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. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
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An EMPTY TOMB . . . Jesus was no longer there. He had risen and they did not know where to find his body/him. They did not yet understand what he had been telling them about rising after 3 days.
When our heart is COLD and WITHOUT LOVE, it is like an EMPTY TOMB because Jesus is no longer there. We are depriving ourselves of the opportunity to benefit from his Resurrection.
Let us ponder on this beautiful song written by Timothy Dudley-Smith and John Foley, S.J., ALL SHALL BE WELL –
All shall be well! for on our Easter skies
see Christ the sun of righteousness arise!
All shall be well! the sacrifice is made;
“the sinner freed, the price of pardon paid!
All shall be well! the cross and passion past;
dark night is done, bright morning come at last.
All shall be well! within our Father’s plan
death has no more dominion over man!
Jesus alive! rejoice and sing again,
All shall be well for evermore, Amen!
