Gospel Reflection Apr 9 – Kim VanHuffel

Sunday, April 9

The Resurrection of the Lord

John 20: 1-9

Gospel:

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.

Gospel Reflection:

Disclaimer: Many of you will read this reflection prior to Easter, during the Triduum. If you are reading this on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, you have just left the dessert of Lent and are still contemplating the Cross, or in the tomb with Jesus. For a few minutes, you’ll have to transport yourself mentally to Easter Sunday. Here goes…

Alleluia, He is risen!!! The desolation of the dessert is behind us and Jesus’ suffering, passion and death have given rise to his resurrection and glorification! He suffered for our sake, for our sins, yours and mine, and he has now defeated death. Because of his resurrection we now have hope. Jesus, who came down from heaven, lowering himself to become human like us, even to the point of what would have been a horrific death on the cross, did so to make a path to salvation for you and for me, and for everyone, even those who were far from God. And because he was raised from the dead and later went back to the Father, he calls us all back to the Father with him. We now have hope that we too will be raised and will have a room in our Father’s house in heaven someday.

What we learn from all of this is that God’s love and mercy are more powerful than anything in the world: more powerful than Rome in the first century, more powerful than death on a cross, more powerful than all our problems, more powerful than even death itself. This world is not our ultimate end. Hopefully Lent helped us to re-order our lives toward what will be our ultimate end — someday being with God in heaven. So just as God shows love and mercy to us, let us show love and mercy to others, and live out the Easter season with great joy and unhindered faith, celebrating with playful happiness the best thing that will ever happen to and for us.

Let us also congratulate the 22 adults who completed their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and their nine children who were also Baptized or received their 1st Communions. May each of you continue to flourish in your faith and bring Christ’s light to all you meet. Alleluia!!

-Kim VanHuffel, Pastoral Associate