The women find an empty tomb Mk 16:1-8

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

The Bible:  Gospel of Mark Series Icon

            

THE WOMEN FIND AN EMPTY TOMB

As the passion story began with a woman of Bethany anointing Jesus, so now it ends with the women coming to anoint  his body in the tomb.  The faithfulness of the women contrasts with the unfaithfulness of the disciples.

The women, the only ones who had not deserted Jesus, go early to the tomb and find it empty.  The sun, already risen can also be a symbol of Jesus already risen.  The young man, as Gethsemani suggests Jesus, now risen and at the right hand of God, sharing the fullness of divine power.  Does his message mean that Jesu have first have revealed his resurrection in a veiled manner to the faithful women through the unlikely sign a dark, silent and empty tomb?

Galilee, where the disciples are told to go, was the place of beginnings, the place Jesus first called His disciples and challenged them in astonishment and terror with the gospel of the king of God.  Now they are to go there to see the gospel of the raising by God of the crucified Jesus.

The strange ending to Mark’s Gospel puzzled Christian from the earliest, times, it seems since other ending were soon added. Most today however, favour verse 8 as the original ending If what Mark intended to write was the ‘beginning’ of the gospel of Jesus as in the Christ and Son of God, it makes sense the he concludes before the resurrection of Jesus is recognised by his disciples.  The shocked and terrified women become a symbol of the moment before the gospel of resurrection burst upon the word, but they too like the disciples, become unfaithful by saying nothing.

Each portrayed the beginnings of the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus by a frightened, obedient woman but Mark presents the beginnings of the mystery of the resurrection of Jesus by frightened, disobedient women.

Collect for Solemnity of Epiphany Year A

COLLECT SERIES.

The Mass: Collect Series icon.

COLLECT

The Collect for the Solemnity of the Epiphany reads as follows:

O God, who on this day

revealed Your only begotten Son to the nations

by the guidance of a star,

grant that in Your mercy,

that we, who know You already by faith,

may be brought to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory.

 REFLECTION QUESTIONS.

In making this prayer tangible, the following questions emerged:

1. How does God reveal Himself to me?

2. How does God give me guidance?

3.What does the guidance of a star mean for my life during this week/year?

4. What does my faith mean to me?

5.  Reflect on what it might mean to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory.

GOSPEL REFLECTION.

The Epiphany is a wonderful Solemnity for the Church.  Here there is arrival of the Magi to complete the Christmas manger scene.  Who were these Magi?  The Magi were most likely wise men from Syria who made a special study of astrology and were believed to have knowledge beyond that of humans.

Later, they became portrayed as Kings. In the adoration of the Magi, the prophecies foretelling the honour which the people would give to the God of Israel were fulfilled. In the Magi, the Fathers of the Church saw in their gifts symbols of Christ's royalty Gold, Incense-divinity and Myrrh- Passion. The Feast of the Epiphany is the manifestation of the Son of God made man.

 The Magi however stayed focused on what they came to seek- they were guided by the star, which filled them with delight because it helped them find what they came to seek- Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger. They were able to do him homage and offer their gifts.  It is interesting to note the reaction of Herod who was governed by power and who

• felt threatened at the possibility there may be another king (someone to threaten his job), 
• played the game pretending he wanted to worship also (sought out information about the threat and how he might overcome the enemy).

Who do we identify in this Gospel? 

• Are we like the crowd who were perturbed?  
• Do we become perturbed when we do not understand a new situation?   
• Is there a Herod in our personality? If so, what might we do about this aspect of our personality?  
• Are we like the 3 Kings, enquirers of the faith? 
• Do we continue to enquire and deepen our faith?  
• What would Joseph and Mary have thought about their 3 kingly visitors to the manger? 
• What would the babe have experienced?

I wonder what they thought about it all.  We do know that Mary pondered all these things and treasured them in her heart. What would the babe have experienced?

 We too need to stay focused and to give the Christ child homage- let us bend our knees and offer our gifts to Him.

Let us guided by the light of the star of faith and stay focused on God this year.

during this Christmastide and throughout 2020.

Jesus, Yesterday, Today and forever.

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My Scripture reflection is 

''We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”  
(Hebrews 6:19)

Christ The Redeemer.

My post is called:

Jesus, Yesterday, Today and Forever.

Thank you for filling my past and my present

 with Your Love and Your grace and Your mercy.

Thank You for the for the promise

that I will spend all my tomorrows with You.