In today’s Easter Sunday Gospel, Mary of Magdala, then John and Peter, came to the tomb in which Jesus was buried and saw the stone removed and his body gone. Just as Jesus could not be contained in a tomb, neither can we be kept in our tombs – for example; sickness, fear, emptiness – if we keep our eyes on Jesus and follow him. Let us pray his seven “I am” statements, in faith, (adapted to the second person).
“You are the bread of life. Whoever comes to you will never go hungry, and whoever believes in you will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
“You are the light of the world. Whoever follows you will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
“You are the gate: whoever enters through you will be saved…. You have come that I may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:9,10).
“You are the good shepherd. You know your sheep and your sheep know you…and you lay down your life for the sheep” (John 10:14,15).
“You are the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in you will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in you will never die” (John 11:25-26).
“You are the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through you” (John 14:6).
“You are the vine; I am a branch. If I remain in you and you in me, I will bear much fruit...” (John 15:5).