Dear Preachers:

All four Gospels mention Mary Magdalene before and after Jesus’ resurrection, but only John’s Gospel places her at the center of the Easter story. She was at the foot of the cross, and now she comes to the tomb. Finding it empty, she runs to tell Simon Peter and the “beloved disciple.” The story then shifts to focus on these two disciples who run to the tomb. The beloved disciple waits to enter until after Simon Peter. When he finally steps inside, we are told, “he saw and believed.”

John’s Easter story is vivid, dramatic, and deeply memorable – but not immediately triumphant. At first, Mary and the disciples are left with mystery and ambiguity. This part of the story reflects the experience of many of us who have not had a “face-to-face” encounter with the risen Christ. It speaks to those who feel in the dark, wrestling with life’s deepest mysteries.

The beloved disciple “saw and believed.” But what exactly did he believe? There isn’t enough physical evidence in the tomb to prove Jesus has risen. The burial cloths prove nothing. Still, while the story begins with Mary arriving “while it was still dark,” there is light at the tomb – light that illuminates the beloved disciple’s eyes of faith. He sees, and he believes.

None of the disciples expected the resurrection. Life’s deepest joys and meanings often come to us unexpectedly: a child’s smile, a friend’s unannounced visit, a simple conversation that deepens a relationship. In John’s Gospel, light is a powerful symbol for faith and the journey of coming to believe. For example, the healing of the blind man (John 9) is not just about regaining physical sight – it’s about coming to see with the light of faith. The message is clear: Jesus is the light of the world, calling believers out of the darkness of sin into the brightness of new life.

So isn’t it strange that today's Gospel reading on Easter Sunday does not include an appearance of the risen Christ?

It can feel a bit frustrating. If the reading continued, we would have heard about Jesus’ appearances: first to Mary Magdalene at the tomb (20:11ff), then to the disciples behind locked doors (20:19ff), and later to Thomas (20:26ff). But today’s reading ends before those encounters – with the beloved disciple entering the empty tomb, seeing the burial cloths, and believing. It lacks the clarity and drama we might expect for Easter morning. What’s going on? This is Easter!

What about Simon Peter and the other disciple? They too are in the dark. Peter enters the tomb first but sees only emptiness – he remains in darkness. But John tells us, “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.” We're not told exactly what time these events happened. It was dark when Mary arrived – was it still dark when the disciples came? Even if it was, the beloved disciple is no longer in the dark. His eyes have been opened. In the light of faith, he sees and believes.

This beloved disciple stayed with Jesus through his passion and crucifixion. He is a faithful witness. He sees the empty tomb and the burial cloths. Though they are not conclusive evidence – and he doesn’t fully understand – he believes immediately. There are people like him today: those who, despite the lack of tangible proof, trust that God is present, even in the most dire situations.

A central theme of John’s Gospel is the contrast between light and darkness. People without hope live in darkness. So do those without faith – those unable to see God in their lives, weighed down by sin. To live in sin is to live in darkness, a darkness that no human power can pierce.

In the Bible, light is a symbol for God and for life. These are divine gifts – only God can give them. John wrote his Gospel with the Hebrew Scriptures in mind. In the Genesis creation account, the world begins in darkness. God’s first creative act is light. In our world, we surround ourselves with security lights – at home, in church parking lots, on highways and at schools. The Jewish people would have understood the symbolic meaning of light. Light is associated with God’s presence and word. It also symbolizes the covenant between God and God’s people.

John’s Gospel presents this duality: light or darkness. People must choose. They can walk in God’s light – or remain in the dark (John 3:20–21). The Gospel challenges the reader: choose life or choose darkness.

Let’s walk with Mary on her early morning journey to the tomb. John includes a detail: “It was still dark.” But this isn’t just a reference to the hour – it’s also a spiritual and emotional darkness. Mary is grieving the brutal death of her beloved teacher. She arrives at the tomb and finds it empty. Her conclusion is logical: someone has stolen his body. She doesn’t know he is risen. All she knows is that her world is dark. Her hope has been shattered. She is alone. What could she do? What would she do? How can she make it through these days of disappointment, fear, hopelessness, and grief?

Go with Mary to the tomb. It’s dark. Where is the dark place in your life, where Jesus seems absent – or even dead? Where does he seem silent, unresponsive to your prayers? Are you in darkness from a recent loss? A painful divorce? Ongoing political unrest? The loss of independence through aging or illness? Fear for children who seem to have lost their faith? Anxiety over the climate crisis, or the decline in church attendance? It is dark.

But unlike Mary at the tomb, we know the rest of the story. Though we, too, may be in darkness, we believe the risen Lord has not abandoned us. We have hope – not because of our own strength, but because we, too, are “beloved disciples.” So are those gathered with us in worship today. Many are struggling in darkness – some more than others. Yet here we are, gathered together. It may be dark for us, but what we cannot see with our physical eyes, we see with the eyes of faith: the Lord is risen and in our midst.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042025.cfm