7/22/2026 (Wednesday) Today’s Gospel reading: John 20:1-2, 11-18

1 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
11 Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.
13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
17 Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

7/22/2026 (Wednesday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: John 20:1-2, 11-18

The Gospel tells the beautiful story of Mary Magdalene arriving at the tomb while it was still dark. She came carrying grief, confusion, and unanswered questions. Instead of finding the One she loved, she found an empty tomb. She remained there, weeping, unable to understand what had happened. Yet it was in that very place of sorrow that the risen Lord revealed Himself to her. Her story reminds us that God often transforms our darkest moments into the beginning of our greatest hope.

The word HOLD helps us remember how we should respond whenever life seems uncertain.

H – Hold on to hope.

Mary’s first reaction was sadness because she thought everything was over. She could only see loss. Many of us experience similar moments. We lose a loved one, face financial difficulties, struggle with illness, or encounter broken relationships. It is easy to believe that darkness has the final word. But God specializes in turning endings into new beginnings. Even when we cannot see His plans, He is already at work. Hope is not based on what our eyes can see but on God’s faithfulness.

O – Open your heart to recognize God’s presence.

The risen Lord stood near Mary, yet she failed to recognize Him immediately because her heart was overwhelmed by grief. Sometimes we are so focused on our problems that we overlook God’s quiet presence. He speaks through His Word, through caring people, through unexpected blessings, and even through our trials. A heart that remains open will discover that God has never abandoned us. He is much closer than we imagine.

L – Let go of what keeps you from moving forward.

When Mary finally recognized Jesus, her natural desire was to cling to Him. However, she had to let go because God was leading her toward a new mission. There are times when we also need to release our fears, regrets, disappointments, or attachment to the past. We cannot embrace God’s future while tightly holding onto yesterday’s pain. Faith requires trusting God’s direction even when it stretches our understanding.

D – Declare the Good News with joy.

Mary did not remain at the tomb. She became the first witness of the resurrection, running to tell others that the Lord was alive. Every Christian is called to do the same. We may not all preach from a pulpit, but we can proclaim Christ through kindness, forgiveness, honesty, encouragement, and lives that reflect His love. A transformed life becomes a living testimony that speaks louder than words.

The empty tomb teaches us that sorrow is never the end of the story. Jesus meets us in our tears, calls us by name, restores our hope, and sends us with a purpose. Whenever life feels overwhelming, remember the word HOLD: Hold on to hope, Open your heart to God’s presence, Let go of the past, and Declare the Good News with joy. When we HOLD onto Christ, we discover that He has been holding us all along.

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