December 27, 2016

Gospel: Jn 20:1a & 2-8
Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, [s]he ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.”
Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.

REFLECTION:
Many human beings on this planet have a best friend. What is a best friend? The person to whom you tell your darkest secrets, confident that your secrets will be safely kept. The person you would trust with your life. The person who would be ready to die for you. The person you consider to be another you. That is what a best friend is—someone especially close to your heart.
Well, John was Jesus’ best friend. This is often expressed in the Fourth Gospel by a Semitic reference: “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” And, no doubt the love was mutual. For John at the Last Supper leaned on Jesus’ chest in a gesture of affectionate abandon. And, in today’s gospel reading, we see that he is the first disciple to believe in the resurrection. He is also the first to recognize Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish (cf. Jn 21:7). He is the one to whom Jesus entrusts his greatest treasure, Mary, his mother (Jn 19:27).
Today perhaps more than on any other day, if we have a special favor to ask of Jesus, it might be a good idea to ask it through the intercession of Jesus’ best friend…