A Reflection for Easter by Fr. Gareth Ingham
It was a bit of a shock when I first realised that the clocks would be changing this weekend. Meaning that getting up for Sunrise service at St Raphael and St Isadore’s – Petton, would be a real challenge. But in some way, it does make the whole devotional exercise more biblical. It will most certainly feel like it is, ‘early in the morning on the first day of the week’.
As we will hear when the beautiful Easter Gospel is proclaimed:
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’
And then, just as in all good stories we have a chase, or in this case a foot race.
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
The one who Jesus loved, the Beloved Disciple, has been at the epicentre of all that has happened during Holy Week, and is also in the thick of the action on that first Easter morning.
But who is the Beloved Disciple?
There is a tradition in the Church that the Beloved Disciple is us; you and me. St John the Evangelist, when he wrote his Gospel named some of the characters, but not others. Some of these unnamed are on the periphery of the story, whilst others like the disciple Jesus loved are centre stage.
The Beloved Disciple is close to Jesus, resting on his breast at the last supper, standing at the foot of the Cross with Jesus’ Mother, and he outruns St Peter and arrives at the empty tomb first.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
What happens next is important for all of us. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. The Beloved Disciple had followed Jesus in faith, trusted and loved him. As a witness to the empty tomb, it was the obedient faithful love and trust in Jesus, that made this belief possible.
I wish you all a very blessed and joy filled Easter. May you approach the reality of the empty tomb with expectant hearts, open to the Easter mystery and majesty of God’s promise in Jesus Christ.
He is Risen, Alleluia!
Fr. Gareth
Priest in Charge – The Benefice of CRIFTINS with DUDLESTON and WELSH FRANKTON
and The Benefice of PETTON with COCKSHUTT, WELSHAMPTON, and LYNEAL with COLEMERE.
Feature Image: St._John_and_St._Peter_at_Christs_Tomb_LACMA_M.81.68.jpg, Wikicommons, PD.