Homily for the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women
On Zeal and Courage of Soul
By St. Cleopa of Sihastria
“And Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples that she had seen the Lord” (John 20:18)
On Zeal and Courage of Soul
By St. Cleopa of Sihastria
“And Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples that she had seen the Lord” (John 20:18)
Christ is risen!
Beloved faithful,
Among the great virtues that adorned the life of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women, the most excellent were their holy zeal for Christ, their piety, and their courage of soul. What vigilance and reinforcement the Jews and Pontius Pilate placed over the tomb of Christ our Savior, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him. A great stone they rolled over the Lord’s Tomb; with seals they sealed the stone; strong and armed soldiers they set as guards. Yet all these things did not frighten or terrify the Holy Myrrhbearing Women. Their great zeal, their holy piety, and their courage of soul overcame all the defenses of the Jews, taking no account of all the guarding of the Tomb. One thought and one purpose ruled their mind and heart: to serve with all faith and piety at the burial of the most precious Savior.
Solomon once said: “A manly woman — who will find?” (Proverbs 31:10 LXX) But behold here women more manly than men. The men, the disciples of Christ, hid themselves for fear of the Jews. Peter the Apostle, ardent and strong in faith, denied the Lord three times, for which afterward he repented and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). But the women, who by nature are fearful and weak, and who often become afraid even where there is no fear — here, in the service of the burial of our most holy Savior, show themselves stronger and more courageous than men. They are not afraid of the terror of the Jews, they do not tremble before the boldness of the soldiers, nor does the guard at the Lord’s Tomb disturb their hearts.
The disciples, being men, are afraid and scatter in all directions, as the Savior had foretold beforehand. The holy women gather together. Those hide themselves; these come forth openly, go to the marketplace and buy myrrh and spices in order to anoint the life-giving Body of Christ. O blessed women, how did you not fear to walk alone at night, and how did you dare to approach that place which the imperial soldiers guarded? How were you not struck with terror, but sought to roll away stones, to break the seals, to open the tomb, and to anoint with spices the Body of the Lord? These deeds of yours sprang from your holy zeal, from your piety, and from the great courage of your souls.
You were weak women by nature, but not in your mind and heart; for nothing of womanly weakness was shown in you, but all your deeds rose above the courage of men. Truly in you was fulfilled the Scripture which says: “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9), and again, “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27; Ps. 8:2; Matt. 21:16). Truly in your hearts were the words of our most holy Savior, Who said: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matt. 10:28). And again the Holy Spirit says: “Be of good courage, and let your heart be strengthened, all you who hope in the Lord” (Ps. 30:26). You, before the Apostles, showed the work of the Apostles. You, before the holy martyrs, accomplished their faith and courage of soul.
Elijah, the great prophet, moved with divine zeal, rebuked Ahab; but you put to shame those who guarded the Lord’s Tomb. Gideon, once overcoming with three hundred soldiers, shattered the great army of the Midianites (Judges 7:25), but you, together with the righteous men Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemos, proved yourselves stronger than all the defenses of the Jews and of Pilate, and you were fearless servants unto sacrifice, ready to serve Him Who came to serve and to give His soul as a ransom for all mankind. You, O holy women, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of our eternal Savior, clothed yourselves with great zeal and courage of soul and showed the earliest service to the Savior. Therefore, before the Apostles, you were deemed worthy to proclaim the Resurrection of the Lord.
Beloved faithful,
Who are those Holy Myrrhbearing Women, that is, the bearers of myrrh, who followed Christ together with the Apostles and who were counted worthy to be witnesses of the sufferings of the Lord and to anoint His holy body with spices while it remained in the tomb? The Holy Gospel briefly recalls to us their names and their deeds.
The first and most full of zeal and spiritual courage is Mary Magdalene, from the town of Magdala, Galilee.
Other Holy Myrrhbearing Women are: Mary, the mother of James (Mark 16:1) and of Joses (Mark 15:47), that is, the cousin of the Mother of the Lord; Mary of Clopas (John 19:25); and Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 27:56; 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). Then Joanna, the wife of Chuza, a steward of Herod; Susanna; and many others who served Him from their possessions (Luke 8:3). Among the Myrrhbearers are also counted the two sisters of Lazarus of Bethany, Martha and Mary, where the Savior often lodged with the Holy Apostles on the way to Jerusalem or Galilee.
What were the principal virtues of these Holy Myrrhbearing Women? First, they believed firmly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah foretold by the prophets, Who came into the world to save mankind. Then, they lived a pure, holy life of prayer and fasting, of restraint and almsgiving; they lived in holy love among themselves and, from their possessions, they received and gave rest with love in their homes to Jesus and His holy disciples.
But the faith and zeal of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women did not stop only here. They not only received the Lord into their homes, where they washed His feet, served Him at table, and gave Him rest, but even more, they followed Christ with zeal, were witnesses of His miracles, and confessed with boldness that He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Yet the greatest courage was shown by the Holy Myrrhbearing Women during the time of the Lord’s Passion. After the disciples, out of fear, abandoned Him and Peter the Apostle denied Christ, the only ones who followed Him from afar were the Holy Myrrhbearing Women, led by the Mother of the Lord, together with Mary Magdalene, alongside the Apostle of love, John. For divine love can never be abandoned.
The courage and bravery of soul of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women were also seen on the way of the Cross toward Golgotha. They alone, together with Saint John, accompanied the Lord to the crucifixion, being witnesses of His sufferings. They alone prayed for Him with tears and deep sighs, so that the Savior, having mercy on them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children… For if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:28, 31).
On Golgotha, the Holy Myrrhbearing Women, together with the apostle of immortal love, were likewise the only witnesses of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. They saw Him bloodied and fallen under the Cross. They saw Him stripped of His garment and stretched upon the Cross. They saw the blows of the nails in the hands and feet of the Lord and fainted from grief beneath the Cross. They heard the blasphemous words of the Jews, the confession of repentance of the thief, and the shattering prayer of the Savior: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46).
The Holy Myrrhbearing Women saw the darkening of the sun, the sorrow of heaven, the raising of the dead from the tombs, and they heard the prayer of forgiveness of the Son of God for the Jews: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34). They also saw the casting of lots for the garment of Christ and heard His final word: “Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit!” (Luke 23:46).
Behold how great was the zeal, the strength of faith, and the courage of soul of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women! They were not afraid of the Roman soldiers so bloodthirsty. They were not frightened by the fury of the Jews, nor were they terrified by the death of the Lord on the Cross, as those who have no hope.
But the courage of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women did not end on Golgotha. They were also present on Friday evening at the taking down of the Lord from the Cross and, together with Joseph of Arimathea, they bought a shroud and spices, anointed His body with spices, wrapped Him in the shroud, placed Him in the tomb, and rolled a stone at the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses — that is, the Mother of the Lord — watched where He was laid. And after the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James — that is, the sister of the Mother of the Lord — and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Him.
And very early, on the first day of the week, that is, Sunday, when the sun was rising, they came to the tomb. And they said among themselves: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” But lifting up their eyes, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very great. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white garment, and they were frightened. And he said to them: “Do not be frightened. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you.”
And going out, they fled from the tomb, for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. And having risen early, on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She, going, announced it to those who had been with Him — that is, the Apostles — who were mourning and weeping (Mark 15:46–47; 16:1–10).
Do you see the zeal of the Myrrhbearers? The courage and strength of their faith in the Son of God? Do you see the bravery of these holy women? The disciples remained hidden and locked in a room for fear of the Jews, while they bought a shroud and spices to anoint the body of Jesus. The disciples wept and lamented the death of the Lord, while they ran at dawn to Golgotha to see the tomb. The disciples waited with fear for news, but they, entering the tomb, received the news from the Archangel Gabriel that the Lord had risen, being told: “Weep no more!” Then, at his command, they returned running and told the Apostles that Christ has risen — He is no longer in the tomb.
Behold how much courage and faith, how much strength and boldness in these women. The men remain hidden, and they run to the tomb, enter within, bring spices, strengthen one another, speak with angels, first behold the tomb empty of Life and see the burial cloths lying aside. They do not fear the darkness of the night, nor the soldiers guarding the tomb, nor death, nor angels — nothing. Their desire was one alone: to see Jesus, to anoint and to kiss His holy body. The Holy Myrrhbearing Women are the first and most worthy witnesses of the crucifixion, death, burial, and Resurrection of the Lord. They are the first who proclaim to the Apostles and to the whole world that Christ has risen, that death, the devil, and hades have been conquered, and that paradise has been opened.
Where are there now such Christian women, lovers of Christ, strong in faith and in good works, as the Holy Myrrhbearing Women of the Holy Gospel? And yet the number of holy women in the Christian Church has increased, sometimes surpassing that of men.
Let us think of the great number of holy martyrs, such as: Thekla, equal to the Apostles; Barbara, who was killed for Christ by her father; Katherine of Alexandria; Irene of Thessaloniki; Mary; Sophia of Rome with her three daughters; Febronia of Nisibis; Tatiana of Rome; or Philothea of Arges. Great also is the number of venerable women who struggled in monasteries and deserts and became vessels of the Holy Spirit and wonderworkers, such as Mary of Egypt, Euphrosyne of Alexandria, Xenia of Rome, Pelagia, Melania the Younger, as well as Parascheva of Iasi and Theodora of Sihla, and many others.
All these venerable women are brides of Christ, disciples of the Holy Myrrhbearers, and intercessors of the Church for us all.
Beloved faithful,
Today is the day of Christian women. They are the successors of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women, daughters of the Resurrection, servants of the Lord, lamps of faith, the soul of the family. Christian women, the faithful of the Orthodox Church, preserve more than men the flame of faith and the traditions of the fathers, the holy fire of prayer and piety in our homes. Faithful women are also good mothers, devoted Christians, honorable and hardworking wives, a model in society. Faithful women are first at church, first at prayer, at fasting, at work, at almsgiving, at reading good books, at caring for the sick — in all things. They preserve the spiritual warmth of faith, of love, of patience, and of reconciliation in the Church, in the family, and in society.
Such good mothers our families need today. Such pious daughters the Church of Christ needs. Such honorable women, models in all things, society today greatly needs. There are enough women who do not want to bear children, nor to give them a good Christian upbringing. There are so many mothers who kill most of their children, and the few whom they bear they do not raise in the fear of God, or leave them to themselves, and they become a burden for the family and a shame for society.
Mothers, you are the Myrrhbearers of today in the Church of Christ. Bring to the Lord not costly spices, but your pure faith and good children — well brought up and faithful. Speak to them more about God, about the Saints, about the Church, and about those before us. Do not scandalize them in anything and give them to read good books as much as possible. You can contribute greatly to the spiritual renewal of the world, of the Church, of society. Add holy oil into the souls of your children. From among them will come tomorrow great souls, good people, faithful priests, enlightened teachers, model Christians. The future of the family, of children, of the Church depends most of all on you. Be faithful as our mothers were. Think what holy mothers we have had!
Young maidens, keep your honor and your good faith unstained for the Lord until you also attain the calling of mothers in society and in the Church. Likewise you widows and elderly mothers, watch over the young, the children, those around you. Do not be silent. Young mothers need your example and your sacrifice; young maidens need your counsel; and children and grandchildren need your prayers, your tears, and your correction.
Begin everything with God - with prayer, with regular confession, and with more humility and patience. More good mothers, more honorable and faithful widows and maidens mean for tomorrow more children in homes, more faithful in churches, more peace in families, fewer drunkenness, divorces, and abortions in the world, fewer illnesses and tears on earth, and more souls in Paradise! Amen.
Christ is risen!
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
