Gospel: John 20: 1-9
In this Gospel version, there are no angels at the tomb, nothing at all to indicate any meaning to what the women will encounter. Here, they come upon an empty tomb, and they figure the authorities have taken the body of Jesus somewhere. This theory makes sense, for they would not want a place for the followers of Jesus to rally and create unrest. But the authorities did not move the body; the followers of Jesus were too paralyzed by fear to even leave the upper room.
But Mary Magdalene spurs them to action: she tells them the tomb is empty, and thereupon they rush out to see. They inspect the tomb and so begins the long reflection on what it all means. They will not realize Jesus is risen from the tomb until he begins appearing to them - first to Mary Magdalene, then to the others in various places. Even then, the mystery is never exhausted and the ongoing reflection upon it continues.
Jesus came to bring love to the world. The world responded by seeking to destroy that love with all the forces and deception at its disposal. Death had its day, but love overcame it and enabled us to withstand our greatest fear, which is death itself. Do not fear death, even at the hands of cruel and merciless men who rule our world. Love has overcome it and will live beyond the event of death.
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