Frederick, Maryland,
United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 20 April 2014 -
Catholic Meditations
Meditations: John 20:1
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still
dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she
ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and
said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know
where they have laid him!”
3 Therefore Peter and
the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran
together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5
Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the
linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with
the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So then the other
disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9
For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Easter Sunday of the
Resurrection of the Lord
On the first day of the
week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. (John 20:1)
It’s Easter Sunday.
Today, we celebrate the fact that more than two thousand years ago, Jesus’
resurrection changed everything. Sin was defeated. Satan was vanquished. Death
was swallowed up by life. But Easter Sunday is not just history. It’s a present
reality that is still changing everything!
Today, an age of grace
is proclaimed. Jesus reigns victorious from the highest heavens. He commissions
us to spend our lives ushering the graces of heaven down to earth, to our
families, neighbors, friends, and even to strangers and enemies. And in this
commission he calls you not his servant but his friend.
Today, a river of life
flows. Jesus has become a life-giving spirit, pouring out the Holy Spirit onto
the whole world. From this spring of resurrection power, a mighty river is
cascading. It’s the millions upon millions of lives who have experienced the
power of God in conversion. Your life has been swept up, too.
How can we even begin to
honor God for what he has done for us today? We can start by following the
footsteps of the disciples in today’s Gospel. So, like Mary Magdalene, seek out
his presence as your first priority. Then, keep running to him throughout the
day in prayer—just as Peter and John sprinted to the tomb. Go ahead. Peer into
his empty grave, as they did, and see that Jesus isn’t dead. He’s alive! See
for yourself that he has been moving in your life all these years, making you a
new creation.
Imagine heaven’s celebration
today. See Jesus enthroned there, surrounded by the praise of the saints and
angels. Now see him enthroned in your heart. Reflect on all that today—Easter
Sunday—has meant for you.
And believe.
“Lord Jesus, you are
alive!” Amen.
Acts 10: 34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive
that God doesn’t show favoritism;
37 you yourselves know
what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how
God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good
and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We
are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they also[a] killed, hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised him
up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41 not to all the people, but to
witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him
after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to
testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and
the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone
who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
Psalm 118:1 Give thanks
to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
16 The right hand of
Yahweh is exalted!
The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”
17 I will not die, but
live,
and declare Yah’s works.
22 The stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s
doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
Colossians 3:1 If then
you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where
Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that
are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For you died, and your
life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then
you will also be revealed with him in glory.
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Questions for Reflection
or Group Discussion:
(Acts 10: 34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive
that God doesn’t show favoritism;
37 you yourselves know
what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how
God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good
and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We
are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they also[a] killed, hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised him
up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41 not to all the people, but to
witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him
after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to
testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and
the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone
who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
Footnotes:
a. Acts 10:39 TR omits
“also”
Psalm 118:1 Give thanks
to Yahweh, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say
that his loving kindness endures forever.
16 The right hand of Yahweh
is exalted!
The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”
17 I will not die, but
live,
and declare Yah’s works.
22 The stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s
doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
Colossians 3:1 If then
you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where
Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that
are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For you died, and your
life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then
you will also be revealed with him in glory.
John 20:1 Now on the
first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to
the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she ran and
came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to
them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where
they have laid him!”
3 Therefore Peter and
the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran
together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5
Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the
linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with
the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So then the other
disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9
For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.)
1. On Easter Sunday,
after 40 days of reflection on the passion and death of Jesus Christ, we now
celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. But more than that, we celebrate our
own resurrection to new life in Jesus, through our faith and our Baptism. In
what way have you experienced the new life that Jesus came to give you through
his death and resurrection?
2. In the first reading
from Acts, Peter says that, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by
the devil” (Acts 10:38). Do you believe that through faith and Baptism, you
also have been anointed with the Holy Spirit and power? Why or why not? If you
do believe this, what keeps you from doing the same kinds of works as Jesus did?
Also, what keeps you from telling others that “everyone who believes in him
will receive forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).
3. The responsorial
psalm also speaks of the power of the Lord, “The right hand of the Lord has
struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted” (Psalm 118:16). The
Psalm goes on to say, “I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the
Lord” (118:17). Do you believe the Lord has given you the power to declare the
works of the Lord to others? Why or why not? Share a time when sharing the
Gospel with someone had a positive impact on their life?
4. In the second reading
from Colossians, we hear this startling proclamation, “you were raised with
Christ” (Colossians 3:1). What do you think these words mean? What about the
following words, “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ. When
Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory” (3:3-4).
How can you allow the truth of these words to impact how you live out your day,
especially when faced with temptations or difficult circumstances?
5. The Gospel reading
says that John the apostle “believed” when he saw the burial clothes, even
though he “did not yet understand the Scriptures that he had to rise from the
dead” (John 20:9). Why do you think John was able to believe without any real
understanding of the resurrection of Christ? How would you describe your own
belief in the resurrection of Christ? How does your “belief” make a difference
in your every day life? How much should it?
6. The meditation
challenges us with this question regarding the resurrection of Jesus on Easter
Sunday: “How can we even begin to honor God for what he has done for us today?”
How would you answer this question?
7. Take some time now
and pray for a greater revelation of what it means that “Jesus is Risen.” Use
the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Lord Jesus, you are
alive!” Amen.
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