It was very early on the first day of the week, and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved saying, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomband we don't know where they have put him.'
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter,reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go it.
Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead. The disciples then went home again.
Reflection
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the body and face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. When Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of the day. The folded napkin had to do with the master and servant relationship and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,because.......... The folded napkin meant,'I'm coming back!'Jesus was telling us that he will be coming back!
Whereas Lord, you have once more fulfilled what you taught us in all the scriptures and we had not really believed until this moment you will always raise up your chosen ones when the world imprisons them in a tomb. Michel de Verteuil, Lectio Divna, Year C, www.Columba.ie
Story
The little girl was out for a walk with her grandad. They took a shortcut through a cemetery. As they were walking along, the little girl was fascinated by all the crosses, statues, monuments, and floral wreaths on either side. Like any such child, Lucy had many questions to ask. What are those things?, she asked her grandad, pointing at the graves and tomb stones. The grandad was caught unawares.
How do you explain the facts of death to a four-year old? Anyhow, he had a go. 'These were people and one day Holy God came and took them away to live with him, in his house, in heaven with all his angels.' The little girl thought about that for a while and, as most parents know, when you answer one question, you are sure to get another one. 'And did they go off to live in Holy God's house?' she asked. 'Yes, they did,' said the grandad, hoping that was the end of the matter.
Suddenly, the little eyes lit up, and she turned to her grandad with a smile of understanding, and with complete conviction in her voice said,'I bet you, grandad, when they went off to live with God and all his angels in his house, that this is where they left their clothes.'
And she was right that's what the angel said on the morning of the resurrection, 'if you're looking for Jesus, he's not here ... but come on in and see where he left his clothes. Jack Mc Ardle, And thats the Gospel truth, wwwcolumba.ie
Today’s prophet -Doubting Thomas
Thomas, "Doubting Thomas," as he is sometimes called, is the first disciple to put into words the greatest confession of faith in Jesus recorded anywhere in the Bible. “My Lord and my God.”
Thomas was a follower of Jesus for three years. On Good Friday he watches at a distance as they spiked Jesus to a cross at Golgotha. As Jesus' life drained away, so did Thomas's hope. He was so disillusioned that he didn’t gather with his fellow disciples that weekend. Jesus appeared to the others and they passed on the word but Tom could not accept it.
On the Monday, when Jesus appeared again to the apostles he turned to Tom and said.
"Put your finger here, see my hands.Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Then Thomas slips to his knees and says in awe, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus replied,
"Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
A gentle call to action
Painted Easter eggs are symbols of the great Easter surprise – they symbolise that beauty and hope come in many different colours, shapes and forms. Jesus' rising from the dead is a huge one. They are very popular in Eastern Europe. Our Christianity is meant to be a source of great joy and thanksgiving to us. It can give meaning to so many things in our life, our family, our joys and sorrows - even our deaths! This is a big thank you day - that is why we share thanksgiving Easter eggs with those we care about
Enjoy your Easter celebrations and your Easter egg(s) today but don't forget the millions of starving people of the world - Don’t forget to drop off your charity box to your chosen charity this week.
"If the only prayer you say in your whole life is 'thank you' that would suffice". Meister Eckhart, the great European mystic.
If you have the care of Children may I remind you that our Lent/Easter section for Children has some interesting suggestions for the weekend.
Prayer Dear Lord,
Thank you for your help and inspiration during Lent.
Thank you for all my family, relatives and friends.
Thank you for the hope you give us and help our Church to rise to new life after all our very bruising history.
Amen. Alleluia!
This is the day the Lord has made, let rejoice and be glad in it!. ..Psalm 117:1-2
Yes, The Lord is truly risen Alleluia, Alleluia !
This just about brings our Lent/Easter Triduum website to a close. Thank you for joining in our journey of Lent/Easter. Thank you also for the many favourable comments you sent to us. Thanks to all who contributed to the website in any way. May the joy and surprise of Easter be ever yours.
It was very early on the first day of the week, and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb 
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over 
Was that important? Absolutely! 
The little girl was out for a walk with her grandad. They took a shortcut through a cemetery. As they were walking along, the little girl was fascinated by all the crosses, statues, monuments, and floral wreaths on either side. Like any such child, Lucy had many questions to ask. What are those things?, she asked her grandad, pointing at the graves and tomb stones. The grandad was caught unawares.
Dear Lord,
