This is John, who at the Supper rested his head on the Lord's breast, the blessed apostle who knew the secrets of heaven and spread the words of life throughout the world.
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding; he clothed him with a robe of glory. (Cf. Sir 15,5)
Glory.
O God, who through the holy apostle John have opened to us the mysterious depths of your Word, grant us understanding and wisdom to understand the teaching that he has made wonderfully resound in our ears. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
First Reading What we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you.
From the first letter of Saint John the Apostle 1 John 1:1-4
My little children, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life - for the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you, so that our joy may be complete.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
From Psalm 96 (97)
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous!
The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice, and all the islands be glad. Clouds and darkness have covered him, but justice and justice uphold his throne. R.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. R.
A light has dawned for the just, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice, you just, in the Lord, and celebrate the memory of his holiness. R.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we proclaim you as Lord; the choir of the apostles acclaims you.
Alleluia.
Gospel The other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.
From the Gospel according to John Jn 20:2-8
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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 put him." Then Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped down and saw the burial cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter, following him, also came and went into the tomb. He saw the burial cloths lying there, and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the burial cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.
FAUSTI - What Mary sees is a sign of the inconceivable. This stone removed takes away from man the only certainty. Mary cannot understand. She runs to announce the disappearance of Jesus. She thinks that he has been stolen. She has not yet understood that love conquers death. "She comes to Simon Peter and the other disciple". Peter, who has denied, is named first. He is placed as the first of the disciples because he has experienced what makes us disciples: the Lord's faithfulness to our infidelity. The "other disciple" is not simply the other of two, but the other, the different one. In fact he rested his head in the lap and on the chest of Jesus (13,23-25), whom he then saw pierced. Normally John is called "the disciple whom Jesus loved" . Peter and the disciple run together. But the latter is faster. He arrives first at the tomb, just as he arrives first to believe and see the Risen One. In fact, the heart gives wings to the feet and to the mind. The friend, who loves as he is loved, precedes the one who is first among the disciples: the primacy is always of love. The disciple does not enter; he waits for Peter, as a sign of esteem for him. But he looks inside and sees the linen cloths spread out. The shroud is the veil of death, the blanket that covers all peoples. (Is 25:7). It was also wrapped around the face of Lazarus (11:44). For Jesus, however, it is said that it was on His head, like the edge of the cloak of someone who is sleeping. Now that He has woken up, He has taken it off. However, it is not with the linen cloths spread out, but set aside, wrapped in a specific place. The “place” par excellence for the Jews is the sanctuary. Of it Jesus had said: “Dissolve this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up”. The veil of death now covers the old sanctuary. God is no longer there. Glory dwells in the Body of Jesus, the new sanctuary, where God removes every veil from His Face and ours. He saw and believed” The linen cloths spread out, with the shroud aside, are the signs that the Lord is not there and has not been stolen. Seeing this, the beloved disciple believes in Jesus, Lord of life, even without having seen him. Love “sees” the signs and “believes in the Risen Jesus, without having seen him. The signs performed in the eyes of the disciples are now also before our eyes in the story that presents them again. Given the identity between Jesus and the Word, by welcoming this we welcome Him. The purpose for which the Gospel is written is faith, which is to know, love and follow Jesus, through listening to the Word. Jesus is the Only Begotten of God, who told us about the Father (1:18). In Him, our brother, we know who we are and who God is, united with Him, the Son, we become like Him. Life is being in Him, the Son, life of all that exists. Having life is that profound desire that moves every thought and action of man. If the goal of the Gospel is faith in Jesus, the opening of heaven on earth (1,51), the goal of faith is full Life, participation in the Life of God.
From the "Treatises on the First Letter of John" by St. Augustine, bishop (Tract. 1, 1. 3; PL 35, 1978. 1980)
Life was manifested in the flesh
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes and which our hands have touched, of the Word of life (cf. 1 Jn 1:1). Who is it that touches the Word with his hands, if not because the Word became flesh and came to dwell among us? (cf. Jn 1:14). The Word who became flesh, in order to be touched by the hand, began to be flesh from the Virgin Mary; but he did not begin to be the Word then, because it is said: "That which was from the beginning". See if the Epistle of John does not confirm his Gospel, where you have just heard: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God" (Jn 1:1). Perhaps someone takes the expression "Word of life" as if it were referred to Christ, but not to the body of Christ touched by the hand. But pay attention to what is added: "Life was made visible" (1 Jn 1:2). Christ is therefore the Word of life. And how was it made visible? It existed from the beginning, but had not yet manifested itself to men; it had manifested itself to the angels and was as their food. But what does the Scripture say? "Man ate the bread of angels" (Ps 77:25). Therefore life itself was made visible in the flesh; it was manifested so that what can be visible only to the heart might also become visible to the eyes and heal hearts. For only with the heart can the Word be seen, but the flesh also with the eyes of the body. The condition for seeing the Word was also fulfilled: the Word became flesh, so that we could see it and that what makes it possible for us to see the Word was healed in us. He said: "We bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made visible" (1 John 1:2), that is, it was made visible among us; or rather, it was manifested to us. "That therefore which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you" (1 John 1:3). Let your love be understood well: "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you." They saw the Lord himself present in the flesh and heard the words from the mouth of the Lord and proclaimed them to us. Therefore we too have heard, but we have not seen. Are we then less fortunate than those who have seen and heard? And why then does he add: "That you also may have fellowship with us"? (1 John 1:3). They saw, we did not, and yet we are in communion, because we have a common faith. Our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We write these things to you so that your joy may be complete (cf. 1 John 1:3-4). It affirms the fullness of joy in the same communion, in the same love, in the same unity.
Antiphon
RispondiEliminaThis is John,
who at the Supper rested his head on the Lord's breast,
the blessed apostle who knew the secrets of heaven
and spread the words of life throughout the world.
In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth,
the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding;
he clothed him with a robe of glory. (Cf. Sir 15,5)
Glory.
O God, who through the holy apostle John
have opened to us the mysterious depths of your Word,
grant us understanding and wisdom
to understand the teaching
that he has made wonderfully resound in our ears.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
First Reading
What we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you.
From the first letter of Saint John the Apostle
1 John 1:1-4
My little children, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life - for the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this to you, so that our joy may be complete.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
From Psalm 96 (97)
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous!
The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice, and
all the islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness have covered him, but
justice and justice uphold his throne. R.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory. R.
A light has dawned for the just,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord, and
celebrate the memory of his holiness. R.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we proclaim you as Lord;
the choir of the apostles acclaims you.
Alleluia.
Gospel
The other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 20:2-8
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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 put him."
Then Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped down and saw the burial cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter, following him, also came and went into the tomb. He saw the burial cloths lying there, and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the burial cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.
This is the Lord’s message.
FAUSTI - What Mary sees is a sign of the inconceivable. This stone removed takes away from man the only certainty. Mary cannot understand. She runs to announce the disappearance of Jesus. She thinks that he has been stolen. She
RispondiEliminahas not yet understood that love conquers death.
"She comes to Simon Peter and the other disciple".
Peter, who has denied, is named first. He is placed as the first of the disciples because he has experienced what makes us disciples: the Lord's faithfulness to our infidelity.
The "other disciple" is not simply the other of two, but the other, the different one.
In fact he rested his head in the lap and on the chest of Jesus (13,23-25), whom he then saw pierced.
Normally John is called "the disciple whom Jesus loved"
. Peter and the disciple run together. But the latter is faster. He arrives first at the tomb, just as he arrives first to believe and see the Risen One.
In fact, the heart gives wings to the feet and to the mind. The friend, who loves as he is loved, precedes the one who is first among the disciples: the primacy is always of love.
The disciple does not enter; he waits for Peter, as a sign of esteem for him.
But he looks inside and sees the linen cloths spread out.
The shroud is the veil of death, the blanket that covers all peoples. (Is 25:7). It was also wrapped around the face of Lazarus (11:44). For Jesus, however, it is said that it was on His head, like the edge of the cloak of someone who is sleeping.
Now that He has woken up, He has taken it off. However, it is not with the linen cloths spread out, but set aside, wrapped in a specific place.
The “place” par excellence for the Jews is the sanctuary. Of it Jesus had said: “Dissolve this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up”.
The veil of death now covers the old sanctuary. God is no longer there.
Glory dwells in the Body of Jesus, the new sanctuary, where God removes every veil from His Face and ours.
He saw and believed” The linen cloths spread out, with the shroud aside, are the signs that the Lord is not there and has not been stolen. Seeing this, the beloved disciple believes in Jesus, Lord of life, even without having seen him.
Love “sees” the signs and “believes in the Risen Jesus, without having seen him.
The signs performed in the eyes of the disciples are now also before our eyes in the story that presents them again.
Given the identity between Jesus and the Word, by welcoming this we welcome Him.
The purpose for which the Gospel is written is faith, which is to know, love and follow Jesus, through listening to the Word.
Jesus is the Only Begotten of God, who told us about the Father (1:18).
In Him, our brother, we know who we are and who God is, united with Him, the Son, we become like Him.
Life is being in Him, the Son, life of all that exists.
Having life is that profound desire that moves every thought and action of man.
If the goal of the Gospel is faith in Jesus, the opening of heaven on earth (1,51), the goal of faith is full Life, participation in the Life of God.
From the "Treatises on the First Letter of John" by St. Augustine, bishop
RispondiElimina(Tract. 1, 1. 3; PL 35, 1978. 1980)
Life was manifested in the flesh
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes and which our hands have touched, of the Word of life (cf. 1 Jn 1:1). Who is it that touches the Word with his hands, if not because the Word became flesh and came to dwell among us? (cf. Jn 1:14).
The Word who became flesh, in order to be touched by the hand, began to be flesh from the Virgin Mary; but he did not begin to be the Word then, because it is said: "That which was from the beginning". See if the Epistle of John does not confirm his Gospel, where you have just heard: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God" (Jn 1:1).
Perhaps someone takes the expression "Word of life" as if it were referred to Christ, but not to the body of Christ touched by the hand. But pay attention to what is added: "Life was made visible" (1 Jn 1:2). Christ is therefore the Word of life.
And how was it made visible? It existed from the beginning, but had not yet manifested itself to men; it had manifested itself to the angels and was as their food. But what does the Scripture say? "Man ate the bread of angels" (Ps 77:25).
Therefore life itself was made visible in the flesh; it was manifested so that what can be visible only to the heart might also become visible to the eyes and heal hearts. For only with the heart can the Word be seen, but the flesh also with the eyes of the body. The condition for seeing the Word was also fulfilled: the Word became flesh, so that we could see it and that what makes it possible for us to see the Word was healed in us.
He said: "We bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made visible" (1 John 1:2), that is, it was made visible among us; or rather, it was manifested to us.
"That therefore which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you" (1 John 1:3). Let your love be understood well: "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you." They saw the Lord himself present in the flesh and heard the words from the mouth of the Lord and proclaimed them to us. Therefore we too have heard, but we have not seen.
Are we then less fortunate than those who have seen and heard? And why then does he add: "That you also may have fellowship with us"? (1 John 1:3). They saw, we did not, and yet we are in communion, because we have a common faith.
Our communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We write these things to you so that your joy may be complete (cf. 1 John 1:3-4). It affirms the fullness of joy in the same communion, in the same love, in the same unity.