Feast of St John the Apostle - John
20:1a, 2-8
The Gospel today is a bit jarring
after the readings we have heard in the past couple of days. This Gospel
presents the scene that takes place right after Jesus’ crucifixion. It is the
scene where Mary Magdalene comes running to Peter and John and tells them that
someone has taken Jesus’ body from the tomb. Mary panics because Jesus’ body
has disappeared!
Have you ever experienced a time in
your life when Jesus seems to have disappeared? A time when you felt the
absence of Jesus in your life? These times can be very dark and frightening. We
may feel lost and alone. This experience may be brief or it may go on for days
or weeks. How do we respond to this “felt loss” of Jesus’ presence? Do we panic
and search for Him? Or do we trust that we once again will experience His
presence? Are we able to stay grounded in Jesus’ love for us? Or do we give up
and walk away?
In my life, when I experience the
absence of Jesus, I usually come to understand that I am the one who has
wandered away---not Jesus! And even if this is not the case for you, are we
willing to stand firm and wait for Jesus to come? Can we wait peacefully,
trusting that Jesus is with us? Or can we imitate Peter’s response to Jesus’
seeming absence? Are we able to see and believe---and trust that Jesus is with
us?
May we pray for the grace to know
that Jesus will not abandon us!
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