NOTES for Mat 28:1-20

All four evangelists begin their accounts of the Resurrection with testimony about the empty tomb. The empty tomb must both prepare the women who brought spices to understand Christ's victory and express its very essence: the tomb is empty, and death is no more.

Since for the angels the Resurrection of Jesus appears much more natural than His death, they say to the astonished women: 'He is alive, He is life itself. Why are you looking for the source of life in a dark tomb? He could not leave you for long - you will soon meet Him.'

And they do indeed meet Him. He still values their freedom: one can doubt, or one can believe, even seeing Him face to face; one can take part in His fulfillment of the Father's will - the salvation of the world - and hear the final words of Matthew's Gospel, which are in themselves the Good News.