Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“He saw and believed.”

 

Gospel Reading: John 20:1a,2-8

 

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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 do not 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.

 

Some of you are probably thinking, “Are we already in the season of Easter?”  Two days ago we celebrated the birth of Christ and in today’s Gospel we celebrate his resurrection.  But yet we are still in the season of Christmas.  So what is the link between the two events?  that It has been said that the wood of the cross is the wood of the manger.  Both are significant events which define our salvation and redemption.  In today’s gospel, the message is about seeing and believing.  Those who came to see the birth of Christ, paid homage and believed.  John arrives at the tomb and when he goes in, he sees and believes.  So what did John see when he entered the tomb that made him believe?  Mary of Magdala tells us that “they have taken the Lord from the tomb” so we know the tomb is empty.  Peter and John raced to the tomb to verify the news.  John at first does not enter the tomb, but when he finally develops the courage he enters the tomb and “he saw and believed.”  He saw the burial wrapping lying on bed with the cloth that covered his face folded and lying next to the wrapping.  What is in the tomb that could have made him believe?  More importantly, it was what was not in the tomb that finally made John believe.  Jesus had defeated death in his resurrection.  Jesus’ resurrection is the single event that confirms Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  It is the resurrection, the birth from death, that forms our faith in Christ.  Without the resurrection, Jesus is just another great profit.  With the resurrection, he confirms our salvation from our sins.  Through his resurrection we are given new life.  Two days ago we celebrated his birth and today we celebrate our birth from death.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the life which defeats death.

You are the resurrection from death into life.

It is only through you that we are born into the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon