The Empty Tomb

The narration

Someone took the body. That was Mary's first thought at the empty tomb of Jesus. The first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene found the stone rolled away, and ran to Peter and John: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. They ran. The body was gone. Only the linen, and the cloth that had covered his head: And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. What thief wraps the face-cloth and lays it aside? Then John stepped inside. No angel. No risen Lord. Only the linen, lying where the body should have been. The gospel says only this: and he saw, and believed. Believed what? That his Lord was risen. He did not yet know the scripture, that Christ must rise from the dead. The linen was enough. Thomas refused to believe until he saw. Eight days later the risen Jesus showed him his hands, Thomas saw, and believed. Then Jesus said: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. You were not at the tomb. You never saw the linen. Jesus was speaking about you. Believe what John believed at the linen, the Lord is risen. Already, he calls that faith blessed.