The tomb was empty while the sun was rising that first Easter day. We so would want our minds and our heads not empty, but filled with understandings which would make it all easier to grasp. We are then, empty-headed believers who are waiting for the light of the Son to comfort our souls as we live toward our rising from our tombs of darkness. The Resurrection of Jesus is the continuation of God’s original statement, “Let there be light!”

Solemnity of the Resurrection of The Lord

The Mass of Easter Day

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8

John 20:1-9 Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken  away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Meditation by Larry Gillick, SJ

We hear in our First Reading for this celebration a review of the life, death and rising of the Christ. Peter describes from where Jesus came, what He had been doing with His life, how “they” put Him to death, and how God raised Him. Peter ends by reminding his listeners that these are facts and that he, Peter, and others, saw Jesus and are commissioned to speak of all that they have witnessed. Peter did not mention anything about bunnies or chickens.

During the Sundays of this past Lent there has been much seeing. The woman whom Jesus met at the well was invited to see herself in a new light. The man who was born blind received the light of faith and Lazarus was brought out of darkness and into the light which is life.

Today’s Gospel’s scene opens in the dark as Mary of Magdela moves toward the tomb. It is empty and Mary is left in the dark about where He has been taken. At this point, Mary does not know and so she does the natural thing, she makes up a reasonable story which makes it somehow understandable. In a way it is the beginning of the rabbit and chicken thing.

Peter and John listen to Mary’s story, but run to see for themselves. Peter went in first and saw the burial wrappings arranged. John entered, saw and believed. They did not yet understand, but believed and so did not begin coloring Easter Eggs to make sense of it all.

It is said easily that the sun rises each morning, but we now know that the earth rotates in such a patterned way that it only appears that the sun peeks over the eastern horizon each morning. That sun gives warmth and life to the surface of the earth, but we don’t know exactly how it all works. We do see the results. We see the sun and can see other things by the sun’s light. We are not so comfortable in the dark and even less when we do not understand. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus is all an invitation to enter the emptiness of the tomb. We tend to believe when we are visibly impressed. We so fear being fooled, tricked or deceived. The tomb was empty while the sun was rising that first Easter day. We so would want our minds and our heads not empty, but filled with understandings which would make it all easier to grasp.

We are then, empty-headed believers who are waiting for the light of the Son to comfort our souls as we live toward our rising from our tombs of darkness. The Resurrection of Jesus is the continuation of God’s original statement, “Let there be light!”

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of all. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1, 4-5)