All four Gospels agree that Mary Magdalene (of Magdala as St John calls her) was the first to witness the Empty Tomb and, later, to meet the Risen Lord. In ancient times she was called “the Apostle of the Apostles” (the one sent to tell the Good News to those whom Jesus sent out to proclaim that same message). Peter and the ‘other disciple’ (usually taken to be St John himself) dash off to verify what Mary has told them. On seeing the Empty Tomb and the cloths that lay there St John tells us, “He saw and he believed.” This is the goal of all of Jesus’ preaching and teaching in this Gospel: calling people to belief and thus to the new life promised in the Resurrection. Today we can share that same faith and hope with people who, even more than usual, need that hope today.