This Sunday, we are blessed to celebrate the righteous Myrrh-Bearers who brought the spices to the Tomb of Christ. Though the tomb was under guard, these women made the journey in the early morning to honor the One they loved.
Let us compare their faithfulness to the Disciples in Gethsemane, and how Mark tells us, “All of them deserted him and fled. A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked” (Mark 14:50- 52).
Now, as the Myrrh-Bearing Women “…entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe… and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you” (Mark 16:5-7). In one moment, a young man abandoned his Lord, discarding his own clothes; now a young man is seen in white to proclaim the Resurrection. Whether these two men are different, or the same person, the message is clear: Christ’s Resurrection frees us from shame & sin.
St. John Chrysostom writes of the Myrrh-Bearers that “Their logic asks questions; their voices are silent; but their hearts help them to walk.” It is very easy for some to say, “Yes, I am a believer, and that is because I hope for eternal life”, but do we love Christ’s because of our promised rewards. The Myrrh-Bearers not only gave of their time and resources to anoint Him— they also put their lives in jeopardy, all in order to fulfill the obligation to their Lord.
In reflecting on the Myrrh Bearers, we can see that Mark’s Gospel speaks of all humanity: from the men who fled, to these women who remained faithful, standing with Christ throughout His Ministry, and even remaining near His Cross. Let us look at how Mark ends the reading, telling us that the women “…went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8). Here, he again challenges what we expect, allowing us to stand in front of the empty Tomb and ask: Do we truly believe? Will we go to our homes and be silent—or will we loudly proclaim that Christ is Risen, and that salvation has been given to the whole world?
+SEVASTIANOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
Greek Orthodox Nun Elucidates the Plight of Christians in the Holy Land
Dear Brother Archons and friends of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, a Greek Orthodox nun who has lived in the Holy Land for many years, recently granted a lengthy and detailed interview to journalist Tucker Carlson on the persecution of Christians in the Holy Land. If you have not watched this interview in its entirety already, I strongly urge you to do so, as Mother Agapia provides a uniquely illuminating perspective on the difficulties that our sister and brothers in the faith face on a daily basis.
As you watch this revealing and often shocking interview, please remain in prayer for the Greek Orthodox Christians of Israel and its environs, and for all the embattled Christians of that war-torn region.
Watch the interview here, and see a full transcript here.
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