Do not delay

The Gospel tells us Mary Magdala was the first to see the empty tomb and also the first to see the risen Jesus.  

The Gospel of John also says that Peter and the Beloved Disciple ran to the tomb when they received word from Mary Magdalene, and they also discovered the tomb empty and they saw the burial clothing there and they believed.  They haven't yet seen the risen Jesus but they already believed.  

I always wondered why the detail about the two disciples running and the beloved disciple running faster than Peter.  Why does it mention this perhaps miscellaneous detail?  Is it because he was younger, healthier and more agile.  Of course, he would've got there first because of his youth.  

But I read an interesting commentary about this.  Because this is only found in the Gospel of John.  John shares this specific detail to show that he was actually the one running to the tomb with Peter. It was a specific detail to show that he was there at the empty tomb and he was a witness. 

It is probably considered a miscellaneous detail, but nevertheless, it is important to consider that the disciples were witnesses.

Keep in mind that their path to the empty tomb was not a straight shoot.  It was not a leisurely stroll in the park.  It was the Passover feast or the feast of unleavened bread, so the population was quite dense, and Roman guards were posted everywhere. If caught, they could be quickly arrested. Moreover, Jerusalem was a dense city and the streets were not as straight as we have here in the US.  It was a maze to find the way to a location.  It is in this context that we read the Resurrection Narrative. 

One thing we can reflect upon is the action within this gospel passage. There was a lot of running.  They were not speed walking to the tomb or taking a leisurely stroll like walking from St Peter Church to Jefferson Park.  They were running. 

The disciples did not delay in the things of the spirit.  Mary Magdalene did not delay in telling the news to the Apostles.  Peter and John did not delay in discovering the evidence of the resurrection.  So they both ran to the tomb.  Upon arriving, they saw and they believed.  

There is a driving spirit within them, to run and tell others about what had happened to Jesus.  There is a driving spirit within them to discover for themselves what had happened.  When they arrived to the tomb, they saw and they believe. 

Wouldn't it be great to have the zeal of Mary Magdalene, to be first witnesses to others about Christ.  

Wouldn't it be great to be the first to discover the empty tomb like John, to see first hand the evidence of the resurrection.  

The Gospel today is about not delaying the things of the spirit.  

I want to be first to see Christ and give witness to him.  I want to be the first to serve Christ and his Church.  I don't want to delay and wait for others and see how they serve.  If the Church has a need, I want to be the first to serve The Lord.  

I want to be the first one to lead others to prayer.  I want to be the first one to do the works of mercy.  I want to be the first one to lend a helping hand to those in need.  

May the Gospel account today give us the driving spirit of urgency, to run, to be the first, to give witness to Christ, and the first to serve Christ without delay.