Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
Because Saint Matthew is always placed first among the Gospels, and the gospels are the first books of the New Testament, today’s gospel passage is, for many people, his first appearance as risen from the dead. It is remarkably brief, and for that reason, all the more astonishing.
Saint Matthew might be describing the moment of his resurrection when an angel opened the tomb and the terrified guards fled. But Jesus did not appear. Or perhaps he had been raised up earlier and the angel only rolled the stone away. In any case, no disciples saw the event for the simple reason they weren't expecting anything to happen. The angel told the astonished women -- who were not paralyzed with fear like the guards! -- the Lord had been raised.
And then, Matthew tells us, Jesus “met them on the way [from the tomb] and greeted them.” Shalom, he must have said, the redolent Hebrew word meaning peace. It was a common greeting like “Good Morning,” but on this occasion and from such a person, Shalom penetrates like a two-edged sword to the very heart of reality. Everything they thought they knew about life and death, hope and disappointment, evil and good: was changed, all changed. A terrible beauty is born.
In time even our understanding of "God" would be radically changed as Jewish monotheism became the Christian doctrine of "trinitarian monotheism." In the very instant, the women recognized Jesus as the One they had followed, they knew they must approach, embrace his feet, and do him homage. They knew he is God who must be worshiped.
More than three centuries would pass before the Catholic Church would define in theologically technical language our understanding of the Holy Trinity but the Revelation was instantly clear and certain on that Sunday morning.
The Revelation of Jesus as the Son of God raised from the dead came as Shalom, as peace to all who believe in him.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.