On this Sunday, the Church remembers the Myrrh bearing women: Mary of Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome who got up early to anoint the body of our Savior in his Sepulcher.
The myrrh-bearing women took with them spices that ‘they might anoint Him’ so we see that they did not go empty handed, rather they brought their gifts.
How is this meaningful for us? Firstly, it is important to emphasize this point, the Apostles, those that the covenant was entrusted to bring to the world, were afraid and in hiding. So, there was a loss of Church leadership at that time.
These women filled the void – the vacuum that was created by lapse of momentary leadership. The Church through the Fathers teach that in the resurrection order was restored for just as it was through a woman, through Eve, that sin came into the world, it was through a woman, the Theotokos, that God came into the world. And it was to these women that the Resurrection was first revealed. Order was fully restored.
How can this Good News be applicable to us today?
1.) The Sepulcher – if we view this tomb internally or symbolically, this is where we also store the Lord and by our sin and habitual behavior Crucify Him and we seal off Christ with a heavy obstacle like the stone in a tomb for example with our cowardice, apathy, sloth, and our shame. We can utilize this Icon of the Myrrh-bearing as means to for our removal of the stone we place to seal off Christ. Their faith, their continuation even in the face of certain defeat, and their bearing of gifts. For we see that in Christianity, much of our relationship with Christ is a call and a response. It requires some movement from our end, a reciprocation. We are called to respond to the Lord, as His Resurrection from this point forward, is a continual call, which not only changes us, but humanity forever. He is still calling us continually. We too should move towards Christ even if it seems certain to end in disaster, we should be faithful, we should lead, and we should bear our gifts for Him to use. And, like then, there will be miracles. Our heart-tombs will be opened by a conversion, which in this case, is in essence – is an earthquake that removes the huge stones that block our path to Christ.
2.) An Angel of the Lord proclaims to ‘go and tell the disciples and Peter that He (Christ) goes before them to Galilee’ But why Galilee? That is where most of the Apostles had their first meeting with Christ – a most unforgettable moment for all of them. Perhaps this is where Christ would like us to go when we get in a bind. Our ‘own Galilee’ where we first met Him? With the resurrection, Christ breaks any notion that His presence is based on locality – in other words, He is everywhere. He transcends place and time. Yes, sometimes we may have to travel to encounter Christ to change our circumstances; to build missions as we are called to do, to visit monasteries, or partake in pilgrimages that are in distant lands. These can all be our Galilee.
3) The Myrrh bearing women went to anoint Christ not for recognition or to seek another Great Commission to garner their own status, rather out of duty and love. They certainly were not seeking the moniker “Equal to the Apostles.” These are titles bestowed on saintly people who seek not their own, rather those who seek Christ. Christ, in their minds, was reposed. He would not be around at that moment to thank them or bless them with high honors. They harnessed the unique quality of a women – one of selfless love, a sort of motherly martyrdom nurturing and honoring those in their weakest position. The true strength of a woman. Restoring order not only of administration, but also that of the role of the woman in the modern-day Church.
Brothers in Sisters in Christ, this is why the Church reminds us that during this period why we must turn back to the tomb – the most difficult and horrendous period in history. And while we already know of the resurrection, we know how that story ends. It ends with triumph, but we have yet to learn how our story ends. So, we look to the tomb to remember the sacrifice given for our salvation. Not for titles or our own status, but to help us remember the need for our on-going repentance.
Let us venture to our own Galilee. The Mission Church where many first met Christ. Help us further our efforts to support missions and mission priests by donating to Share the Faith Ministries today.
Written by: Deacon Christopher Purdef
