Saint Bernardino Realino by Ermes Dovico

GOSPEL PEARLS

The testimony of the women

When the women returned from the tomb they told all this to the Eleven and to all the others (Luke 24, 9)

Gospel Pearls 16_04_2022 Español

On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. As they stood there not knowing what to think, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women lowered their eyes. But the two men said to them, ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man had to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day?’ And they remembered his words. When the women returned from the tomb they told all this to the Eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them also told the apostles, but this story of theirs seemed pure nonsense, and they did not believe them. Peter, however, went running to the tomb. He bent down and saw the binding cloths but nothing else; he then went back home, amazed at what had happened.(Luke 24, 1-12)

Following Jesus’ death, the women go to the tomb and Jesus "rewards" them by making them the first witnesses of His resurrection, the most important event ever to take place. Until that moment, a woman’s testimony was considered of less value than a man’s. Yet, Jesus trusts them with the very first announcement of the resurrection. Did you announce Christ yesterday by example or word or were you too focused on your daily activities?