April 29, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS` REFLECTIONS ON THE SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN
My beloved in the Lord,

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Just as the Sundays before Holy Pascha each had a theme, or a lesson for us to understand, so do the Sundays afterward. This Sunday is dedicated to the Myrrh-Bearing Women, the Myrofores, and the miracle that they witnessed.

The Holy Scripture tells us that early in the morning on the first day of the week, these faithful women went to fulfill their last obligation of love and service to the dead body of their Teacher. Because of their faithfulness, they received the amazing blessing of being the first to see our Risen Lord. At first, they thought He was a gardener, but when their eyes were opened spiritually, they were able to discern the spiritual resurrected body of their Teacher. Then their Teacher gave them an order to go and tell the others the good news of His Resurrection, and that He would be with them.

Although we don’t understand the mind of God nor His will, we can certainly understand here that our Lord delivered His message and instruction to humans just like us, to women who were both courageous and faithful. For women were created to believe, as children of God, and once they believe, we can see that they become strong and zealous, ignoring all obstacles, even giving their own lives without hesitation, as we know from the lives of the saints.

When our Lord chose these women to communicate the good news of His Resurrection to the disciples, they were hiding in the locked upper room, from fear of the authorities. It was to this locked room of fear, hopelessness, grief and defeat that the women brought the astounding news that their Teacher was not dead, but alive! So in the same way does our Risen Lord bring His grace to the locked rooms of our own lives, releasing us from our pain, anger and grief, setting us free from sin, death and the power of evil, to receive His abundant blessings of love, life and hope.

On the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers, I honor all our beautiful women of faith, who take the responsibility of loving and following Christ, setting an example for those who are neglecting their Church out of ignorance, hesitation, laziness or other obstacles that society places in our path. Of course this is not easy, because, as we know, life is not without difficulties and there is no accomplishment without effort or struggle.

Let us resolve then, as we commemorate and celebrate the faithfulness of the Myrrh bearers, to emulate their example and, in humility and love, “Go and tell the others!”
ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta