Gospel: John 20:1a & 2-8
Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away.
She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.” Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.

Reflections
“he saw and believed.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have encou­raged us to define faith not just as a lofty idea, but an encounter with God. Through this defini­tion, we are reminded that theo­logy is not just “faith seeking understanding”, but a relation­ ship with God who made him­self known to us especially in Christmas.
Today’s feast of St. John Apostle and Evangelist reechoes his encounter with God and his attitude to share it. “What we have seen and heard, we pro­claim it now to you”(I John 1). His experience of the resurrection cultivated his faith and impelled him to share it, even when met with persecution.
Indeed, the life of St. John brings us to encounter God. And when we have encountered him we cannot help but share it to others. Truly, encounter with God and mission to people are inseparable.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019