IV.
Returning to our focus passage for this week, notice all the words that describe what the women had done, were prepared to do and the emotions provoked by what they found and heard.

V.
Mark 16:1-8 (NRSVue)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.]]

VII.
We are told they prepared themselves for an important burial rite for one they loved. Why?

Why were they concerned about “the stone”?

Walk with them into the tomb. What do you see? What concerns, even frightens you? What do you want to do? Do you want to run out of the tomb? Do you question what you think you see?

Even after the “young man” speaks to them they, “… fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them … they were afraid.”

Why did the flee?

Why do you think they are gripped by both “terror” and “amazement”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}