NOTES for Mat 28:8-15

Let us look at the women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. As the beginning of chapter 28 of the Gospel according to Matthew tells us, there was “a great earthquake,” and the two Marys, the myrrh-bearing women, saw an angel of the Lord who told them of the Lord’s Resurrection. I think it is obvious that they were frightened. Yet the Evangelist still writes about the fear and trembling in the hearts of the myrrh-bearing women, helping us to see what they experienced (see Mt 28:8). The women are frightened by the earthquake and then by God’s messenger. But what does he say? He gives voice to the longing of their grieving hearts and allows the shoot of hope to break through to the surface and become manifest joy and knowledge. Their joy is already great, and they run to share it with the disciples. And then what happens? He who is Himself this Joy longs to fill them with it completely! He meets them, rejoicing that they believed the wondrous news of His Resurrection, with words so often heard from God’s lips: “Do not be afraid.” The place that fear occupied in their hearts is flooded with exultation. This passage helps us see one of the ways of “receiving perfect joy”: like the myrrh-bearing women, we need to come to the Lord and believe Him and His Resurrection. Then He will come to calm us with the words “Do not be afraid,” helping us open our whole heart to His joy.