HOMILY 69 #

For the Third Sunday after Pascha: A Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Commemoration of Saint Joseph, and Nicodemus, and the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women.

Beloved, when the sun shines forth in splendor through the clouds, it is pleasing to those who behold it. In like manner, after the crucifixion and death of Christ, the Resurrection of the Lord shone forth with joy upon His Apostles. But Joseph of Arimathea dared greatly even before the Resurrection of Christ, while the chief disciples had fled. Alone he went to Pilate, boldly asking for the Body of Christ, whom he had seen hanging on the Cross—for he had already recognized Him as God.

He did not say, “I am rich; perhaps I shall lose my wealth if I ask for the Body of one condemned to death and be slandered by the Jews.” He thought no such thing, but counted all as nothing, and asked to bury the Body of Christ. Pilate was amazed: “Has He already died?”—for he had expected Christ to remain alive longer. And he questioned the centurion whether He was already dead; and upon learning the truth, he gave permission to Joseph to take Jesus’ Body. Joseph took the Body of Jesus, bought a linen shroud, and reverently placed the Holy Body in his own new tomb—for he was a disciple of Jesus and knew how to honor the Lord with reverence, goodness, and great dignity, desiring to be made partaker of His heavenly Kingdom.

He was a counselor by rank and one of the elders of the people. Hear this, you rich who are engaged in civic matters and who concern yourselves with affairs of the marketplace: did Joseph’s rank as a counselor prevent him from performing an act of virtue?

And after the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Jesus—this being the custom of the Jews. Understand, then, the words of the Gospel. Matthew says: “As the Sabbath began to dawn” they came to the tomb. Luke says: “Very early in the morning.” Mark says: “At the rising of the sun.” But none of these contradicts the others—they all speak of different women.

According to Matthew [Matt. 28:1], the women came not with myrrh but to see the tomb. Then there was a great earthquake, and an angel rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb and said to the women, “Fear not.” Then Jesus Himself appeared to them and said, “Rejoice! Go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” These women were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses.

Again, around midnight other women came, having heard from Magdalene what had happened concerning Christ’s Resurrection, and desiring to verify it for themselves. Luke wrote about them [Luke 24:1], saying that very early in the morning they came to the tomb, and others with them, and they saw that the stone had already been rolled away. And they beheld two angels in shining garments, who said, “He is not here, but is risen.”

According to John [John 20:1], before dawn Mary Magdalene came, she from whom seven demons had been cast out. She saw two angels in white sitting in the tomb—and also saw Christ Himself. Mark says [Mark 16:1–7]: After the Sabbath had passed, and the sun had risen, all the women came together with the spices. He refers to Mary, the mother of James, as the Mother of God.

To them appeared a young man and said, “Do not be afraid.” First he calmed their fear, and then proclaimed the Resurrection, saying: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; He is not here.”

Do you see? The angel is not ashamed of the Crucifixion—for by it salvation came to the whole world. To confirm their belief, he added: “See the place where they laid Him.” And he said: “Go, tell His disciples—and Peter.”

He mentioned Peter alone among the disciples, for he had denied Christ during the Passion. Had the women come and said simply, “We were sent to tell the disciples,” Peter would have said, “I am no longer His disciple—He has rejected and hated me.” Therefore, the angel mentioned Peter by name, so that he would not fall into despair.

He sends them to Galilee, desiring to deliver them from the fear of the Jews. Therefore they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Let us also give thanks to the Lord, who suffered for us, was buried, and rose again. May He receive our thanksgiving and praise as a pure offering, and may He make us worthy of eternal blessings—for He is good and loves mankind. To Him be glory, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.