Fifteenth Station: Jesus is Risen!

Shroud of Turin

The Empty Tomb. from John 20: 1-18  Click and listen while you are reading: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE





The Sudarium of Oviedo



1On the first day of the week,a Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. b 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned home.

The Appearance to Mary of Magdala.* 11But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

In contemplating the accomplished Joy of this Easter Day, Good Thomas tells us to stay the course...don't waste the moments of prayerful insight you have gathered over these past six weeks.


Book 3, CHAPTER 49
Of the Desire After Eternal Life, and How Great Blessings are Promised to Those Who Strive for Such Blessings.
Jesus is speaking to us: "My child, when you feel the desire of eternal happiness to be poured into you from above, and long to depart from the
tabernacle of this body, that you may contemplate My glory without shadow of turning, enlarge your heart, and take in this holy inspiration with all your desire. Give most hearty thanks to the Supreme Goodness, who deals with you so graciously, visits you so lovingly, stirs you up so fervently, raises you so powerfully, lest you sink down through your own weight, to earthly things. For not by your own meditating or striving do you receive this gift, but by the sole gracious condescension of Supreme Grace and Divine regard; to the end that you may make progress in virtue and in more humility, and prepare yourself for future conflicts, and cleave unto Me with all the affection of your heart, and strive to serve Me with fervent will."

Next week we will return to the chapter progression in book 1.

Until then, Happy Easter and than you for praying along with me...

Be imitators of Christ.

tim