The Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women

On Easter Sunday, we greeted the resurrection of Christ, with the paschal hymn, "Christ is Risen". On Thomas Sunday, we went to the cemeteries and brought this greeting to the dead.

Today we do something radical. Today we recognize, not only the sick and suffering, but we recognise the carers of the sick and the suffering. Today's epistle talks about the institution of the deaconate. The gospel talks about the myrrh bearing women. Both of these groups were people who looked after the poor and the suffering. What does this tell us? The early church recognised the importance of this ministery, both those who suffer and those who care for the suffering. This is the first group of people after the deceased that the church went to to bring the good news of the resurrection to. Social consciousness is fundamental to being Christian. When one person suffers, we all suffer. If we are truly a community of believers, we must take this seriously. We must recognise that to help the poor and needy is bring God to those that suffer.

Today's message is then, let us encourage the suffering by visiting them. However, let us also serve, those who serve the sick. Indeed, let us serve the sick and the suffering ourselves, as today's Epistle and Gospel tell us this is truly the will of God.
Right Rev. Olexander Kenez