Daily Gospel Reflection for December 27, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Picture Mary Magdalene, heavily grieving, walking slowly to the tomb to keep vigil—the last thing she could offer to Jesus in her heart just days after His brutal crucifixion. It is morning, but the sun hasn’t yet risen. She makes her way through the garden, looking downward as she walks until she nears the tomb. She finally dares to look up at the place where Jesus’ horribly maimed body was laid, but something is wrong. The stone is gone. Did Mary walk with a light or not? She does not investigate the tomb but runs off to tell the others. Peter and John appear back at the tomb first, no doubt confused and afraid—how traumatized they must still feel by Christ’s recent Passion. They enter, first Peter, then finally John, and notice the rolled burial garments. More than two days after being violently beaten, wounded, and supplied with no food and water, it would be impossible for Jesus to remove His burial clothes, even with the slightest chance that He was still alive when He was buried. And there they lie, orderly! What robbers would take the time to organize burial clothes if they had sought to steal Jesus’ body? The Gospel states that after entering the tomb [they] “saw and believed."

Do you recall the moment you “saw and believed?” What did Jesus reveal to your heart or mind that caused you to run and investigate? The disciples began to believe in the resurrection and immediately returned home. This is a model for us today. Upon believing, the disciples first return home. They will, of course, later be called to, “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), but perhaps Jesus first desires to plant and cultivate this tiny new seed of faith.

Ponder:

Do I take the opportunity to “see and believe” when I encounter Jesus’ resurrection at Mass? How do I take this faith home?

Pray:

Jesus, I know You are truly present in the Eucharist, and that You died for me and rose again, resurrected. Increase my faith in eternal life and in these truths.

Click to tweet:
Do you recall the moment you “saw and believed?" What did Jesus reveal to your heart or mind that caused you to run and investigate? #dailygospel

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