Second station

The disciples find the tomb empty

P  We adore, O Risen Christ, and we bless you.
A  Because by your resurrection you have given life to the world.

R From the Gospel according to John (Jn 20,1-9)
<Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she 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 laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin which had been on his head, not lying with the linen 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; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.>

G1 Great excitement around the tomb. Maria of Magdala, on seeing that the stone was moved, runes into the city. Peter and John hasten to the sepulchre where the body had been placed in a hurry, because of the imminent Jewish day of Preparation (Jn 19,42). An unusual sight in a new sepulchre: the linen clothes lying on the ground and the cloth that had been around Jesus' head folded separately. The people at the tomb try to understand what has happened. The news arouses fear. John starts to believe in God's omnipotence. God is able to, God wants, God does. He is able because He is Almighty. He wants because is the Father. He does because is faithful.

G2 The thought of death worries man who would like to deny it: but science, technology and development move the posts only, and yet death stays immortal. The sepulchre also swallows up the hopes of the man who is even able to land on the Moon. Miserable would be the history if that grave in Jerusalem had continued to hold back the Just one; it would have been the victory of evil and not of goodness, of darkness and not of light, of nothingness and not of fullness. This absurdity if introduced into history would have changed into an absurd the whole of history, into a nonsense suffering of all innocent and oppressed who are buried in the undergrounds of time. If the man loses the key to life, he will walk the path of the absurdity.

A  Rejoice, O Virgin Mother Mary: Christ is risen, Alleluia!

P  It is only you, risen Jesus, who can restore to us the joy of life. Only you can show us the Empty Tomb from the inside. Make us aware that in the face of death we are helpless without you. May we entrust ourselves to the omnipotent Love, that has defeated death totally.
A  Amen.

A  O Mary, temple  of the Holy Spirit, 
    guide us, the witnesses to the Risen Christ, 
    on the path of light.