During the first weeks following the life-giving, radiant Resurrection of Christ, we hear the testimonies of this Resurrection, and through this witness, we ourselves partake in the assurance that Christ has indeed risen, that He is truly the Son of God, the Savior of the world. But we do not only receive this testimony; we remember by name those people who brought this witness to us. And we must remember them with a trembling heart and deep gratitude, for without them, the news that Christ is risen would not have reached us with such power and conviction.
On the first Sunday, we remember the Apostles, who met the Savior Christ face to face and were convinced that He was not a phantom, but their Lord risen in the flesh. On the second Sunday, we remember the Apostle Thomas, who demanded certainty because, perhaps more than any other, he felt that upon this would rest all our hope, all our faith, and all our future life… Now we also remember the Myrrh-bearing Women, who came early to the tomb and were witnesses – not of the Resurrection itself at first, but of the empty tomb, which told us that the Body of the Savior was no longer there; they were witnesses to the angelic words that He had risen, and they met the Savior Christ. Today we also remember Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Here are a few names upon which I wish to dwell.
Joseph was a secret disciple; Nicodemus came to the Savior by night. While He was alive, they remained silent and hidden, but when He died, suddenly the faithfulness in their hearts blossomed with such courage that they openly declared themselves disciples of the One who seemed defeated, disciples of the One whom human malice had slain. They went to Pilate to demand the body of the Savior Christ. They, who during His life feared to admit they were His disciples, when it came to His death, proved faithful and bolder than many others, bolder even than His chosen disciples.
Today we also recall Christ’s words to the Myrrh-bearing Women: “Go, tell His disciples and Peter…” Why does Christ single out Peter? Could Peter have hoped for a joyful meeting with Christ then? He had not yet received forgiveness; the shame and disgrace of his triple denial still weighed upon him. Peter might have thought: “Yes, Christ is risen; He is a friend to everyone, but to me, He is a judge…” And comforting him in advance, revealing Himself even before the time as Savior and Friend whose friendship never wavers, Christ says to His handmaidens, the Myrrh-bearers: “Go, proclaim not only to My disciples, but also to Peter, that I am risen, and that there is hope, that all things are possible…”
Let us remember each of these people. The Myrrh-bearing Women followed Christ and served Him and the Apostles with their substance; they did not flee from Golgotha; they stood there when all the disciples had hidden. Let us remember Peter, who denied Him – and yet remained faithful somewhere in the depths of his love. Let us remember Joseph and Nicodemus, who were afraid during His life, but in whom there blossomed this wondrous loyalty to their seemingly defeated Teacher. Let us not forget them; let us accept their testimony and take from them the example of that faithfulness of heart and that capacity to believe. Then we, too, shall be given the knowledge that faith revealed to them concerning Christ. Amen.
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