Easter Sunday | iPray with the Gospel
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. 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.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.
John 20:1-9
Apparently everyone is rushing around today, from the tomb to Jerusalem and back. After the three saddest days of their lives, Jesus’ disciples are now all over the place. ‘Could it be possible?’ the disciples were wondering. ‘They saw the empty tomb! They say that Jesus is alive! But how?’ Now there is hope and two of the Apostles who had been still and motionless for hours begin to run. A new hope urges them to search for Him: ‘What if the women are right?!’ … ‘What if Jesus was right?!!!’
According to Christian tradition, while everyone else was scurrying around, Our Lady waited expectantly in prayer. During those three days Our Lady had been counting the hours until she would see her Son alive. She was the first to see the Risen Body of her Son, to kiss His pierced Hands, to caress His open Side, to rest her head on the Sacred Shoulders marked by the Cross, and to embrace the Glorious Body of her Son, to mix her tears with His… and to converse with Him… forever. My Mother, Our Lady, help me to remain very close to you today so that I can see Our Risen Lord, and spend my prayer contemplating the Wounds that He received for my sins. Holy Mother, Our Hope, may I always be at your side, next to your Son. May I never lose hope!
This article originally appeared on www.ipraywiththegospel.org. Reprinted with permission. Copyright © George Boronat.
Rev. George Boronat
Rev. George Boronat M.D. S.T.D is a Catholic priest from the Prelature of Opus Dei, working in the Archdiocese of Southwark in London. He is the Chaplain of The Cedars Independent School in Croydon, and also works as Chaplain of Kelston Club & Study Centre (Balham) and Oakwood Independent School (Purley). He has developed his pastoral ministry mainly with young people and is the author of iPray with the Gospel: Resources to Help Young People Pray.
