Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/762

 apostles. Whereupon Peter  and  John  likewise  hastened  to  the  grave, and, entering  in,  saw  the  linen  cloths  in  which  the  Body  had been wrapped,  each  in  its  right  place,  the  head-cloth  where  our Lord’s Head  had  lain,  and  the  foot-cloths  where  His  Feet  had been; but  the  Sacred  Body  itself  had  vanished. They could perceive that  no  one  had  stolen  the  Body,  for  had  they  done  so, they would  have  taken  It  away  wrapped  in  the  cloths,  or  else they would  have  torn  these  off  and  cast  them  aside. It began to dawn  upon  them  that  their  Lord  had  really  risen  from  the dead. But where  was  He? Why did  He  not  show  Himself? And full of  such  thoughts  they  returned  home.

Mary Magdalen,  following  the  two  apostles,  returned  herself to the  grave. And while  she  stood  there  weeping,  she  saw  the two angels. One of  them  said  to  her:  Woman,  why  weepest thou?” Mary  sorrowfully  replied:  “Because  they  have  taken  away my Lord,  and  I know  not  where  they  have  laid  Him.”

When she  had  said  this  she  turned  back,  and  saw  Jesus standing! but she  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. He said  to  her: “Whom seekest  thou?”  She,  thinking  it  was  the  gardener,  replied: “Sir, if  thou  hast  taken  Him,  tell  me  where  thou  hast  laid  Him, and I will  take  Him  away.”  Jesus  said  to  her:  “Mary!”  Immediately recognising  Him,  she  fell  down  at  His  Feet,  and exclaimed: “Rabboni!”  that  is  to  say,  “Master!”  He  said  to  her: “Do not  touch  me,  for  I am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father,  but go to  My  brethren,  and  say  to  them: I ascend  to  My  Father,  and to your  Father,  to  My  God  and  to  your  God.”  He  then  disappeared.

Meanwhile the  other  women  had  returned  from  the  Sepulchre, and to  them  also  our  Lord  appeared  and  gave  the  same  message: “Go and  tell  my  brethren,  that  they  go  into  Galilee,  there  they shall see  me.”  On  the  same  day  also  He  appeared  to  Simon Peter (Luke  24,  34).