April 20, 2025

For Us and for Our Salvation

Edgardo Colón-Emeric | Read John 20:1-18

(Image by: Pixabay)

Lectionary Week

April 14–20, 2025

Scripture Overview

“For us and for our salvation.” This phrase from the Nicene Creed, which turns 1700 this year, sums up the heart of John’s Gospel. Christ’s life and work was for our sake. Everything Jesus did and experienced abounds with saving mysteries. They are mysteries because the sights, sounds, and scents of God’s glory overwhelm our physical senses and intellectual understanding. They are saving because through these mysteries come gifts of forgiveness, hope, and healing. This Holy Week, John the Evangelist will be our guide to these holy mysteries. Through contemplation of the Gospel readings, we will confess with renewed vigor and deeper understanding that “for us and for our salvation,” Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read John 12:1-11. Can you think of a time when God’s presence overwhelmed you? How did you share this experience with others?
• Read John 12:30-36. When have you missed the signs of God’s presence? What helped you later realize God had been there all along?
• Read John 19:38-42. What role does divine silence play in your relationship with God? When is this silence a gift?
• Read John 20:1-18. Where do you look for and find signs of resurrection? How do you keep your hopes bold?

Respond by posting a prayer.

¹ Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” ³ Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. ⁴ They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. ⁵ Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. ⁶ Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. ⁸ Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. ¹¹ Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. ¹³ The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” ¹⁴ As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

For us and for our salvation, “he must rise from the dead.” When Lazarus came out of his tomb, the disciples had no problem recognizing him. He was still clothed in his burial clothes, and the stench of death still clung to him. But something was different about the risen...

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O Lord Jesus, raise my hopes from the tomb of mediocrity to the heights of your mercy. Amen.

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