During this season of Lent, I will be working through Bishop Robert Barron’s Lenten Gospel Reflections (available through Word on Fire). Each day, I will share the readings and the reflection question, followed by my own thoughts.
April 17, 2022
1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Jn 20:1-9, 19-31). (2006). Ignatius Press.
Although the story is told only on Easter Sunday, how does the Resurrection imbue your daily life with hope?
The Resurrection is the hinge on which everything turns – the foundation on which our faith rests. As the Apostle tells us, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17)!
If Christ has not been raised, then it is futile to believe that the Torah is anything more than a group of people in near antiquity who adapted common myths and folk-tales for their own gain. But Christ affirms the existence and authorship of Moses, and Christ has been raised.
If Christ has not been raised, then it is futile to believe that our universe is intelligible or predictable, since it must have been formed from chaos. But the God of order raised Christ from the dead.
If Christ has not been raised, then it is futile to believe that there is meaning to life; we should eat and drink, since tomorrow we die. But Christ has been raised, and at the last day, we too will be raised – some to death, and some to life.
If Christ has not been raised, then it is futile to believe that objective morality exists; every man should do as he pleases, since what is “right” is subjective opinion. But Christ has been raised, and He gave us a new command: Love.
Lord, Your Resurrection makes all things new. Renew my heart with love for You and Your creation.
Steven Mills 