The chief priests and Pharisees had Jesus' tomb tightly secured lest His disciples steal the body. Thus, it was unsurprising that the disciples' reactions ranged from astonishment to fear and disbelief upon discovering the empty tomb. Notwithstanding this, they each had a distinct and different way of making sense of Jesus' tomb.

Mary of Magdala used her physical sight, saw an empty tomb and simply concluded that 'they' must have removed the body. Simon Peter tried to find meaning behind the visual clues in the linen cloths. The beloved disciple could see with the eyes of faith and grasp the spiritual truth - 'he saw, and he believed'. Perhaps he represents all of us loved by Jesus who, by responding to His grace, can become living parables of His glory in returning love for love.

The Resurrection is a historical event and the basis of our Christian faith. Of the three disciples, who can you identify with? How can we move beyond being mere spectators and observers to living out our faith intentionally?

May the Risen Lord touch our hearts to see the needy, the poor and the vulnerable and all who knock on the door in search of affirmation of their human dignity.