In some ways this Gospel is a difficult one for prayer. It only presents a part of the story and the full unfolding of the good news that story contains lies in the next part of the text. However, even with this section there is plenty of material for reflection and for prayer.

1. The disciples are in a state of shock and suffering from a traumatic loss. Jesus, the one in whom they had placed so much hope, has been
murdered and buried. Then, before they have time to recover, comes another shock – the body of Jesus is missing. Have you had experiences in which one tragedy or crisis follows quickly after another? What was that like for you? How did you cope? What, or who, sustained you then?

2. Mary and Peter, and possibly others, came and discovered that the tomb was empty. The part of the story we have in this text gives no explanations of what has happened. They are left in a state of bewilderment “for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead”. Have you been in that kind of a situation faced with events you cannot explain, possibly events which have dashed your hopes in another person, or in God? What has that been like for you?

3. Yet in spite of the lack of explanation, the beloved disciple “saw and believed”.