Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for Easter Sunday. Note: There are three possible Gospel readings for the celebration of Easter this year. Luke 24:1-12 is read at the Easter Vigil Mass, John 20:1-9 is recommended for Masses in the morning, and Luke 24:13-35 is an option for afternoon celebrations. The vigil Mass is usually when the new members of the community are baptized and welcomed to the Lord’s Table for the first time. It is a beautiful and faith-filled celebration. However, the majority of people typically attend one of the Masses on Easter Sunday morning. Therefore, the focus here is on the text from John’s Gospel.
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here:Franciscan Gospel Reflection April 13 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Community, Newton, Wisconsin shares their Resurrection-stained glass window. The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed.
John 20:1-9
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.
Background:
This familiar Gospel may seem an unusual choice for Easter because the Risen Lord is not encountered. Rather, the text centers on the empty tomb and the first disciples’ encounter with the absence of Jesus. Belief in the resurrection for John’s community was not based on their first-hand experience of the risen Christ, but on the testimony and faith of the Christian community. This is true for all of us also. Our faith journey has its beginnings on the faith and testimony of those who have come before us.
Mark’s Gospel has the women going to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. At the tomb they encounter a young man in white who tells them that Jesus has risen and that they should go tell the disciples. Luke describes multiple women going to the tomb where they encounter not one young man but two, who are later described as angels. According to the first ending of Mark’s Gospel the women leave terrified and do not tell of their experience. In Luke’s Gospel they are terrified but do go and tell of their experience to the disciples. Luke then tells of the encounter of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. John begins by stating that it is still dark, but the reason for Mary of Magdala going to the tomb is omitted. When she reaches tomb, the stone is moved aside and she presumes that someone has removed the body. She then goes to report to Peter and the other disciple what she has discovered. They both run to the tomb. The other disciple arrives first but waits for Peter to arrive. Peter enters the tomb and sees the burial cloth. John says that when the other disciple enters, he sees and believes, even though neither understand yet the scriptures that stated that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
Throughout his Gospel John commonly uses a lack of understanding as a tool for Jesus to offer further explanation that will lead to deeper understanding. Think of the account of the woman at the well, the man born blind, and even Martha and Mary. Mary’s lack of comprehension is not a problem because she has faith in Jesus; the understanding will continue to develop within her as it does within the early disciples. In a like manner this text ends with the beloved disciple going into the tomb seeing the wrapping and believing, but not fully understanding. More needs to be revealed for the disciples to come to fuller understanding of what has taken place.
The texts that will be used throughout the Easter season will highlight this development. Next Sunday the text will describe the disciples’ first encounter with the risen Lord in the upper room.
Reflection Questions:
- What in this Gospel is most striking for you? Does that have any special meaning for you at this point in your life?
- Is there anything in John’s account of the empty tomb that you miss? Does that have any special meaning for you?
- Why might Mary Magdalene have gone alone to the tomb of Jesus?
- Do you think you would have wanted to go to the tomb? Why?
- At the beginning of this Gospel John says that it was still dark. What do you think John meant by that simple statement?
- Do you ever find yourself praying in the dark? Is there prayer that feels right in the dark?
- Why do you think John tells his community that Mary of Magdala went to the tomb first? (He could have easily not included that piece of information in the text.) What does it say to you?
- Is it possible that you are being invited today in some way to go into a dark and empty tomb in some way?
- Can you take some time now to talk with God honestly and openly about your situation, your feelings as you approach this Easter, and what you need God to teach/show you about the life that God desires to reveal to you?
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