Dear all.
Christ is risen!
Gospel Reading
Yesterday’s gospel reading (Mark 15:43 – 47; 16:1 – 8) recalls the myrrh bearing women. Unlike, the disciples who scattered at the crucifixion of Christ these woman were constant and consistent in their ministry to the Lord. None of these women lost their faith or feared for themselves as they bore witness to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord.
The question comes to mind: why did the Lord choose to reveal his Resurrection to women? Women in those days had an inferior status and whose word could not be relied upon. Surely, from our human perspective, it would have made more sense for him to reveal himself to Pontius Pilate or to others in authority. In that way those with the most influence in society could be most influenced by the resurrection. Yet, our Lord chose to reveal himself to the weak.
I think on reflection that this must be the reason why Christianity was so embraced. This was a movement that came “bottom-up” rather than “top-down.” It was a movement embraced the weak, the marginalised, the oppressed, the poor. After all did not Christ himself say that to be first in the kingdom you had to be a servant to all. Christ inspired hope in the hopeless and made people strong in his weakness.
Such faith would have been seen as a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. Such faith does not have self as its centre but rather has the other as it centre. Anything that does not promote self is seen by this world as folly but it is precisely this folly that not only has taken root but has flourished in the hearts of all people. It is by this folly we are saved.
Programme
Programme for the week: Wednesday 20th of April feast day of the apostle Mark matins and divine liturgy from 7:30 AM; Bible classes 6 p.m. to 7 PM; 7 PM to 8 PM; Saturday 28th of April Divine liturgy in English 9 AM to 10:15 AM.
Thought of the week
Consistency and constancy is like a tree that has its roots embedded in love and whose branches reach out in an intense embrace to all around. Like any good tree, it gives its fruit in due season and provides shelter against the storms of life for those that shelter beneath its canopy.
Till next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou 0411 061 554
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