John 20: “He Is Risen”
1. “On the First Day of the Week”
“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark.” (Jn 20:1)
The dawn of the new creation begins “while it was still dark”.
The Fathers saw this as both literal and spiritual: light arises in the midst of faith’s darkness.
St Augustine writes:
“She came in darkness, but love led her; faith begins where sense ends.”
(Tractates on John 121.3)
The “first day” is also the eighth day — symbol of new creation and eternal life.
Sunday, the Lord’s Day, becomes the Christian Sabbath.
St Bede the Venerable:
“The first day of the week is the first day of eternity, for the Resurrection begins the endless day.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
2. “The Stone Had Been Taken Away”
“She saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” (v. 1)
The stone is rolled back not to free Christ — He has already risen — but to invite faith to enter.
Divine revelation opens what human fear had sealed.
St Ambrose notes:
“The angel did not open the tomb for the Lord to go out, but for the world to look in.”
(On the Faith IV.10)
3. Peter and the Beloved Disciple Run to the Tomb
“She ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.” (v. 2)
Mary becomes the first messenger of the Resurrection — apostola apostolorum, the apostle to the Apostles.
Yet in humility she shares her discovery rather than asserting authority.
St Bede writes:
“Love hastens to announce what it cannot yet understand; zeal outruns comprehension.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
4. The Race to the Tomb
“They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.” (v. 4)
The Fathers loved this detail.
The “disciple whom Jesus loved” represents love; Peter, authority.
Love runs faster, but waits for obedience before entering.
St Augustine explains:
“Love sees first, authority enters first; for the Church knows through affection, but teaches through office.”
(Tractates on John 121.6)
Unity of love and authority thus characterises the Church.
5. The Linen Cloths
“He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.” (vv. 6–7)
These details show divine calm and order.
No theft, no panic — only the serene victory of resurrection.
St Bede:
“The linen cloths show the reality of His body; the folded napkin shows the reasoned peace of His divinity.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
The Lord leaves behind the trappings of death, as the butterfly leaves its chrysalis.
6. “He Saw and Believed”
“Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” (v. 8)
Faith often begins in silence — no vision of angels yet, no sight of Christ, only signs.
The beloved disciple believes without seeing the Risen Lord.
St Augustine:
“He believed what he did not see, while others saw and believed later. In him the Church of the Gentiles is prefigured.”
(Tractates on John 121.8)
This is the blessed faith Christ will praise in Thomas at the chapter’s end.
7. Mary Magdalene Weeping Outside the Tomb
“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.” (v. 11)
Love lingers where reason departs.
Her tears, says the Fathers, are the baptism of faith renewed.
St Ambrose writes:
“She weeps for the Lord whom she has lost, and by weeping finds Him; for tears wash the eyes of the soul.”
(On the Virgins II.9)
Two angels appear — one at the head, one at the feet — like cherubim at the mercy seat.
The tomb becomes the new Holy of Holies.
St Bede:
“Where the body of the Lord had lain, there sit angels; for where God dwells, mercy reigns.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
8. “Woman, Why Are You Weeping?”
“They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’” (v. 13)
Her grief is personal: “my Lord.”
Faith begins not in doctrine but in love.
St Augustine notes:
“She sought the body, but found the Spirit; she asked for the dead, but met the living.”
(Tractates on John 121.9)
9. “She Turned and Saw Jesus Standing”
“She turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.” (v. 14)
Recognition requires revelation.
The Risen Lord is the same yet transformed; His glory veils familiarity.
St Ambrose:
“Faith must rise from sense to spirit; for He is seen truly only when believed divinely.”
(On the Faith IV.11)
10. “Mary!”
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher).” (v. 16)
The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name (Jn 10:3).
One word turns despair to joy.
St Augustine comments:
“He was recognised when He called her by name, as if to say, ‘You are known, therefore you know Me.’”
(Tractates on John 121.10)
Personal encounter completes faith.
11. “Do Not Cling to Me”
“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.’” (v. 17)
He forbids not love but the form of love that seeks to possess.
The new relationship will be by faith and sacrament, not by physical sight.
St Bede explains:
“She is warned not to cling to Him as to one still mortal; the touch of faith must replace the grasp of sense.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
Christ’s Ascension will perfect what Resurrection has begun.
12. “Go to My Brethren”
“Go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” (v. 17)
This is the first proclamation of the Gospel after Easter.
Mary becomes the first herald of the new covenant.
St Ambrose:
“She who had fallen through a serpent’s word is raised through a woman’s word; the message of death becomes message of life.”
(On the Virgins II.8)
Christ now calls His disciples “brethren” — divine sonship shared with humanity.
13. “Peace Be with You”
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” (v. 19)
The locked doors show fear; the sudden presence reveals divinity.
“Peace” is the first word of the Risen Christ — reconciliation completed.
St Augustine writes:
“Peace is the fruit of forgiveness; He shows them His wounds that they may know the price of that peace.”
(Tractates on John 121.13)
14. The Gift of the Holy Spirit
“He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (v. 22)
The breath of Christ recalls Genesis 2:7 — the creation of man.
Here begins the new creation: man reborn through the Spirit of the Risen Lord.
St Bede:
“As God breathed life into Adam, so the new Adam breathes life into His apostles.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” (v. 23)
The sacrament of Penance is instituted.
Forgiveness flows through the Church by the Spirit of Christ.
St Ambrose teaches:
“He breathes, that they may remit sins; for none forgives save God, yet God has willed to act through men.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.18)
15. Thomas Absent
“Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.” (v. 24)
Absence from the community means missing grace.
The Fathers read Thomas as the figure of the doubting yet honest believer.
St Augustine:
“He was absent that he might doubt, doubt that he might see, see that he might believe, believe that we might not doubt.”
(Tractates on John 121.19)
16. “Unless I See”
“Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” (v. 25)
Doubt demands evidence — and mercy provides it.
St Bede:
“Thomas sought sight, but the Lord sought Thomas; the Shepherd found the lost sheep even through the locked door.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
17. “My Lord and My God!”
“Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here… do not be faithless, but believing.’ Thomas answered, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (vv. 27–28)
This is the highest confession of Christ in the Gospels.
Thomas sees humanity and proclaims divinity.
St Ambrose writes:
“Doubt gave birth to faith; the touch that tested flesh confessed God.”
(On the Faith V.10)
The Church still echoes this confession at every Mass when the Host is raised.
18. “Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen and Yet Believe”
“Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (v. 29)
Here Christ blesses the future Church — believers of every age who live by faith, not by sight.
St Augustine comments:
“We are those blessed ones; we see not, yet we believe, and believing we love.”
(Tractates on John 121.22)
Faith now replaces vision as the ordinary mode of communion.
19. “That You May Believe”
“Now Jesus did many other signs… but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (vv. 30–31)
The Gospel concludes its main narrative with this purpose: faith leading to life.
St Bede summarises:
“He who wrote these things saw and believed, that we who read might believe and live.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.26)
Faith is the door to eternal life; Scripture the key that opens it.
20. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Empty tomb | Sign of faith before sight |
| Mary Magdalene | Love seeking Christ and finding Him |
| “Do not cling to Me” | Transition from earthly to spiritual communion |
| Peace and Spirit | New creation, forgiveness, and mission |
| Thomas | Doubt transformed into adoration |
| Blessed faith | Vision replaced by trust and sacrament |
St Augustine concludes:
“Christ rose in the body that we might rise in the spirit; He appeared to the eyes that He might dwell in hearts.”
(Tractates on John 121.23)
21. Moral and Spiritual Application
Seek Christ early. Like Mary, let love draw you even in darkness.
Believe without seeing. Faith rests on His word, not proof.
Live from the sacraments. The blood, water, and Spirit flow continually for us.
Proclaim peace and forgiveness. The Resurrection commissions us to mercy.
Confess with Thomas. Let “My Lord and my God” be your heart’s daily prayer.
22. Closing Prayer
Risen Lord Jesus Christ,
You turned sorrow into joy and doubt into faith.
Breathe on us Your Holy Spirit,
that we may forgive as we are forgiven,
believe without seeing,
and live the peace You give.
Call us each by name, as You called Mary,
and make our hearts burn with love for You,
until we behold You face to face,
our Lord and our God.
Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 