Ā Easter Sunday ā Mass during the Day ā 17 April 2022
Lectionary Readings: Acts 10:34a. 37-43; Ps 118: 1-2. 15-17. 22-23; Col. 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9
Theme: We rejoice and are glad in our Risen Lord
In our Gospel reading from John for this the celebration of the Eucharist for Easter Sunday we have some wonderful happenings which reveal to us Johnās purpose for writing his account. Firstly, we have the characters of Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, the āother discipleā and the āempty tombā. Secondly, we have details like āthe first day of the weekā; āstill darkā; and āstone had been taken away from the tombā. We have Mary Magdalene running to tell Simon Peter and āthe one whom Jesus lovedā that Jesusā body has been removed ā her conclusion as a result of the stone having been rolled away, and in distress and confusion, she wants to find the body of Jesus. We have Simon Peter and the āother discipleā running. The āother discipleā runs faster and looks in and sees the ālinen clothsā but does not go in before Simon Peter. Simon Peter goes into the tomb and sees āthe linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been at his headā. The napkin was rolled up away from the linen cloths. Then the āother discipleā who was at the tomb first entered and āsawā and ābelievedā. The fact that Jesus must rise again, according to the Scripture, had not yet dawned on Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter, but the āother discipleā believed.
It is interesting that Simon Peter and the āother discipleā believe Mary Magdalene ā probably because of her distress and confusion at discovering the stone had been rolled away. Womenās tales were not regarded as reliable. The two disciples run (two were needed as witnesses to a truth) ā a reaction to Mary Magdaleneās alarming news! The evangelist says it is āstill darkā which probably refers to the slowness to believe in what Jesus had said and the human confusion. It was the first day of the week ā the third day since the crucifixion and burial.
The āother discipleā probably being younger and more open to believing (āthe one whom Jesus lovedā), reaches the tomb first but waits for Simon Peter to go in first. Is it out of deference to the one chosen to lead the apostles? He does see the linen cloths. Simon Peter enters and sees the linen cloths and the ānapkin rolled up away from the clothsā ā the way they would have been around the body. So no-one had stolen the body ā it is as if the body rose to life leaving the cloths behind. Nothing is said about whether Simon Peter believed but it is said that the āother discipleā āsawā the cloths and that was enough for him to believe that Jesus had risen. Simon Peter, it seems, is still slow to believe.Ā Ā Ā Ā
In the first reading from Acts we see Peter standing up and boldly proclaiming that āGod raised (Jesus) up on the third day and made him manifestā. He is called Simon Peter in the gospel account and Peter here. Is it that he now has taken on his role as the believing leader (the āRockā) of the apostles? We remember that this is after the encounters with the Risen Lord, his Ascension and the bestowing of the Holy Spirit.
In response to this amazing Mystery of Godās love and mercy, we pray together the first words of the āVictimae Pascaliā: Let Christians offer sacrificial praises to the Passover victim. The lamb has redeemed the sheep: The Innocent Christ has reconciled the sinners to the Father. Death and life contended in a spectacular battle: the dead leader of life reigns alive. Alleluia, Praise the Lord!
For Reflection and Discussion: 1.With whom do I stand in this āempty tombā story? 2. In our second reading from Colossians we are told that we have died with Christ (in our Baptism) and that therefore our lives are hidden with Christ in God. What difference has this made in your life at this time in our world? 3. Can I say with conviction that āthis is the day the Lord has made; (I) rejoice in it and (am) glad?ā Do I witness to this truth in my life? Bibliography: Nicholas, King. The New Testament. (Great Britain: 2004); African Bible (Nairobi: 2004); Wikipedia: Victimae Pascali.
This weekās Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Bernadette Teresa Chellew, Durban, South Africa; Bat Kol Alumna: 2008
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