The Persisting Placement of Women

Luke continues to tell us about the women.

I’ve come to really value reading the passion and resurrection narratives at a time other than Holy Week & Easter. I’m just able to hear them differently for some reason. As you read Luke’s resurrection stories today and the next two days, listen with different ears.

The bravery of these women astounds me. I’m sure there are cultural elements that I just don’t understand in the notion of someone going to the holding tomb of someone recently deceased to take care of their bodies. We just don’t do that today.

But there are other factors. For one - he had just been crucified! His body was surely a mess. Another - he was killed because Rome allowed it, and the religious leaders and most of the fervent crowd wanted it. To go and care for his body seems rather risky. But also all the disappointment, besides the devastating nature of death itself, these women had put so much hope into Jesus.

To show up at the tomb is something, indeed.

It’s probably not that they aren’t afraid, but they are less afraid enough to step into these things of grief and death. And frankly, resurrection comes to them first. Christ’s resurrection is for all. But it came first to these women. Luke seems intent on pointing this out. From the beginning of his gospel and all he tells us of Mary, and Elizabeth, and even Anna to the vignettes throughout regarding Mary Magdalene, Mary & Martha, and many unnamed women. He has a point and we ought to hear it.

In today’s passage, he notes that the apostles couldn’t really hear the testimony of the women. These men regarded their words as nonsense. Indeed.

It’s not that women are incapable of lying or deceiving. For sure, women and men are human alike. But for those who have demonstrated such courage in the midst of significant difficulty, they ought to be heard and believed.

Luke 24:1-12

Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Human One must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words. When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.

Psalm 30:4-5

You who are faithful to the Lord,
sing praises to him;
give thanks to his holy name!
His anger lasts for only a second,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may stay all night,
but by morning, joy!

Prayer

God,

Thank you for yet another new day. As I sit here looking at this beautiful pink sunrise, I’m yet again astounded that this is a perpetual gift to us - a new day. Thank you.

Help me to live it well, in your love and grace, in the beauty of your creation and the wonderful complexities of relationship. Help me to mindfully enjoy the air I breathe, the food I eat, and the things I see.

And then things get difficult today, remind me of your presence all along and help me step into whatever it is with wisdom, compassion, and an ability to respond and decide well.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.