www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

The different accounts in the Gospels all have a common theme related to the discovery of the Resurrection. The women were the last to leave Jesus at the Cross--the men had all fled--and the women were the first to go back to the Tomb after the Sabbath to properly prepare the Body for burial. (Although the Body had been hurriedly placed in the Tomb, the customary burial ritual of anointing and wrapping had not been done because there was no time before the Passover to do it and still avoid ritual impurity.)

Someone suggested to me that it is part of the "turning the world upside down" that Jesus came to do that had women being the first witnesses to the Resurrection. Women were not considered to be credible witnesses to anything at that time and in that culture. How has the Resurrection reinforced Jesus' attitude toward half of humanity that were, for His culture, merely regarded as chattel property? (Compare to Jesus' speaking ot the Samaritan woman and the way it seemed to shock His disciples.)

This scene of the women going back to the Tomb to finish the ritual burial is also significant. In Jewish practice, men prepare the bodies of men and women prepare women. NEVER does this practice occur where a woman touches a man, much less a dead male's body. That custom still prevails in Jewish burial practice today with the holy brotherhood or holy sisterhood that each synagogue has. The early Christians of Jewish origin would have picked up on this right away. What does this say about the status women are to have in the Christian community? In many ways our own culture does not yet fully apreciate the talents and contributions of women. What does this suggest to me as a believer as to the way I should relate to the women in the community?

The other thing that strikes me about this witness of women is from St. John's Gospel: the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the Risen Lord Jesus. She doesn't recognize Him until He calls her by name. In the simple, quiet speaking of her name, she recognizes Jesus--the Jesus she has come to know as the God of infinite forgiveness and love and as a Man Who could have close relationships with those around Him--demonstrating how the New Creation should be lived that He was bringing into being with His Passion and Resurrection. There seems to me to be a bond of intimacy--and not as the recent movies would have it as being sexual--here that God wants to have with each one of us and that He came here in the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish. He calls each of us by name--somewhere I've read "I have called you by name and you are mine."

We are each called in Baptism and plunged into the Saving Passion and Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called by name, each one individually but also in and through the Church so that we are part of a hand-picked family. I admit that I cannot fully wrap my head and my heart around all this. It feels just way too big to get my arms around. And yet, Jesus Christ has wrapped His Arms around me in Baptism, Chrismation, and in the Holy Mystery of His Precious Body and Blood: He's plunged me into His Passion, Death and Resurrection; He's anointed me with His Own Kingship; He continues to nourish me with Himself, the Gift Sublime. And He does it for each person He calls--one at a time in and through His Church.

For all the meditations of Great Lent with the references to water, anointing, nourishment--has any of this sunk into me yet? Am I further along the way in my relationship with Christ? Have I stopped a little and just tried to absorb some of this tremendous mystery that He has drawn me into? Or am I still on the surface with all this? Has it caused an earthquake in my inmost being--really rocked my world? Do I act in accord with the great dignity that I have received by being made part of God's Royal Family, the Church?

Do I spend some time trying to listen to His pronouncing my name so that I hear all the love, the caring, the concern, the support that Mary Magdalene heard by that one pronouncement from the mouth of Christ? There will come a day when He will call each of us by name to Himself. Will I recognize His Voice and be glad of that call? Do I recognize His Voice in the concern of others in my family? In my faith community? In those around me? Why or why not? Am I listening for it?

May He Who rose from the dead, Christ Our True God, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life, continue to open the Mystery of His Love for us.

Brother Theophan,

May God fill your soul with Light and Eternal Life. Amin.

I have strong faith that once upon a very special time, Lord Jesus Christ will call us by name and take our hand and lead our souls to the Heavenly Emaus. Christ is with us all the time, but we are blind. Thank you, Brother in Christ.

May Most Holy Mother of God protect you, Brother, and bring to you health, peace and much mercy to your family. Amin.

Marian+

P.S. I apologize again for my poor English.

MARIAN:

Christ is Risen!! Indeed He is Risen!!!


Don't apologize. There are those who are "native speakers" of English who don't write as well as you.

May the Lord continue to bless you in your pilgrimage.

BOB

BOB,

I wanted to thank you for your deep and insightful posts in this section. Keep up the good work.

God Bless You,

Dr. Eric

DR ERIC:

As I've said before, if ANYTHING I write or say is beneficial--if it helps build your relationship with Jesus Christ--then FIRST thank Him for His grace given to me and to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Then I do appreciate your support and encouragement. For some, I'm too "orthodox" for their taste.

Just thought I'd share what I do with my time after studying and reading. It's an attempt to make it "sink in" by posing this type of question to myself. If it helps you, too, then God be praised.

Your brother, BOB

Dearest Bob, dear brother in Christ,

You are truly THE BEST! Your meditations are a blessing to this forum.

Thank you for a different perspective on the significance of the myrrh bearing women.

I once heard an Archbishop meditate on the loving and caring hearts of women in relation to this coming Sunday.

There is so much significance and symbolism beneath the surface in these scriptural events.

God bless you.
Alice

Brother Theophan,

Please, continue to be too "orthodox". May God bless you on your path to the Heavenly Kingdom, eyes on Lord Jesus Christ, He be the margin of our wishes. Amin.

In Risen Christ,

Marian+

Wow. What a wonderful meditation.
This is what I like best about this forum.
Christ is Risen!
Indigo