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Easter Season · Year A

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

April 5, 2026

The Two Disciples at the Tomb, Henry Ossawa Tanner
The Two Disciples at the Tomb, Henry Ossawa Tanner, c. 1906Art Institute of Chicago
Peter and John stand at the mouth of the tomb in the dawn light: the young John leans forward, lit full in the face, and the older Peter holds a hand to his chest behind him.Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.Henry Ossawa TannerAn American painter, son of a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who settled in France and painted biblical subjects in a quiet, inward light.Art Institute of ChicagoThe Art Institute of Chicago, one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States.Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 20:1-9Jn 20:1-9 orMatt. 28:1-10Mt 28:1-10Alt. GospelAfternoon orevening Mass: Luke 24:13-35evening Mass: Lk 24:13-35
Second ReadingCol. 3:1-4Col 3:1-4 or1 Cor. 5:6b-81 Cor 5:6b-8Alt. 2nd ReadingSequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes
First ReadingActs 10:34a, 37-43
Responsorial PsalmPs. 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)

Overview & Insights

“He saw and believed.” (John 20:8)

John’s account opens before dawn, “while it was still dark” (v. 1), and closes before anyone has seen the risen Jesus: the Roman rite stops the reading at v. 9, so the gospel of the day Mass rests on an empty space and the inference drawn from it. The footrace of Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved (vv. 3-4) has long been read as a quiet comment on the standing of the two figures, the younger arriving first but yielding precedence at the entrance. The detail carrying the weight is the burial linen: the cloths lying flat and the head covering “rolled up in a separate place” (v. 7). Lazarus had come out still bound hand and foot (John 11:44); here the wrappings are left behind. Verse 8 reports that the disciple saw and believed, and verse 9 is candid about what that belief still lacked, an understanding of the scripture. The Matthean alternative supplies what John withholds, an encounter on the road.

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Take it further: John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10

Commentary

Commentary on John 20:1-18Commentary on Jn 20:1-18 Working Preacher

Lutheran reading of the empty tomb as new-creation garden imagery.

John 20:1-18 CommentaryJn 20:1-18 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed homiletical commentary on the resurrection narrative for preachers.

Dawn: SALT's Commentary for Easter Sunday SALT Project

Ecumenical commentary on the dawn setting and meaning of the resurrection.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Loyola Press Sunday Connection

Catholic Sunday-wide background and family discussion notes for Easter's readings.

I Have Seen the Lord, Easter Day (A) Episcopal Church Sermons That Work

Anglican preaching voice on Mary Magdalene's resurrection testimony.

John 20 Commentary: An Empty Tomb and A Risen JesusJn 20 Commentary: An Empty Tomb and A Risen Jesus Enduring Word

David Guzik's verse-by-verse walk through the empty tomb and Jesus' appearance to Mary.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of John Summary (Part 2, John 13-21)Gospel of Jn Summary (Part 2, Jn 13-21) BibleProject

Overview video tracing John's Gospel through the crucifixion and resurrection chapters.

The Church Fathers

John 20Jn 20 Catena Bible

Patristic comments (Chrysostom, Augustine, and others) gathered on the resurrection chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

We are Witnesses Journey with Jesus

Weekly lectionary essay reflecting on Mary Magdalene's witness at the tomb.

Worship & Prayers

Easter Sunday, Year A - Liturgical Resources UMC Discipleship

Year A Easter Sunday worship planning notes and prayers.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave #659 - Easter Sunday Working Preacher Sermon Brainwave

Working Preacher's roundtable podcast discussing the Easter Sunday texts.

Art & Music

Resurrection of the Lord - Texts, Art & Music Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary

Vanderbilt's per-Sunday page of art, music, and commentary links for the Resurrection of the Lord.

Study Hub

Easter A Textweek

Textweek's Year A Easter Sunday index of commentary, sermon, and worship links.

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