Daily Reading

Christ-Mary-Resurrection

Bible > CPDV > John 20

John 20

The Resurrection
(Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12)

1Then on the first Sabbath, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 2Therefore, she ran and went to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3Therefore, Peter departed with the other disciple, and they went to the tomb. 4Now they both ran together, but the other disciple ran more quickly, ahead of Peter, and so he arrived at the tomb first. 5And when he bowed down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not yet enter. 6Then Simon Peter arrived, following him, and he entered the tomb, and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and the separate cloth which had been over his head, not placed with the linen cloths, but in a separate place, wrapped up by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who had arrived first at the tomb, also entered. And he saw and believed. 9For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that it was necessary for him to rise again from the dead.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Mark 16:9–11)

10Then the disciples went away again, each by himself.

11But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping. Then, while she was weeping, she bowed down and gazed into the tomb. 12And she saw two Angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been placed, one at the head, and one at the feet. 13They say to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have placed him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?” Considering that it was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have moved him, tell me where you have placed him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” And turning, she said to him, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17Jesus said to her: “Do not touch me. For I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them: ‘I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God.’ ”18Mary Magdalene went, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and these are the things that he said to me.”

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
(Luke 24:36–49; 1 John 1:1–4)

19Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: “Peace to you.” 20And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord. 21Therefore, he said to them again: “Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived.25Therefore, the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, “Peace to you.” 27Next, he said to Thomas: “Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.” 28Thomas responded and said to him, “My Lord and my God.” 29Jesus said to him: “You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Book

30Jesus also accomplished many other signs in the sight of his disciples. These have not been written in this book.31But these things have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, in believing, you may have life in his name.

Catholic Public Domain Version


Meditations: 1st Week of Advent

Faith in the Most Holy Eucharist Monday of the First Week of Advent “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Mt. 8:8 This familiar line is taken from the faith of a Roman centurion. He asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus agrees to come cure him, and the centurion exclaims this profound faith in Jesus stating two things: 1) He’s not worthy of Jesus’ presence in his home and, 2) His confidence that Jesus can heal his servant simply by saying the word. Jesus, of course, is quite impressed with this man’s faith and obliges him with the physical healing of his servant from a distance. But Jesus does much more than a healing. He also holds this man up as a model of faith for all. This beautiful statement of faith from the centurion is used within the Mass to speak of two matters of faith in regard to the Eucharist: 1) We are not wor- thy to receive Holy Communion and, 2) We invite Jesus anyway to come and heal our souls. Advent is a time when we especially ponder the great mystery of the Incarnation. It’s a time when we especially ponder the mystery of God coming and dwelling with us in physical form. Though this happened over two thousand years ago, it con- tinues to take place at each and every Mass. And at each and every Mass we are called to express the same faith as this Roman centurion.

Reflect, today, upon your faith in the coming of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. Each Mass is a manifestation of the God-Man who came to live among us and live within us. If we but have the faith of this centurion, we, too, will be blessed by our God beyond measure. Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief. Help me to see my unworthiness each time I prepare for Holy Communion. And in that humble admission, may I also invite Your healing presence in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.