Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Deacon Vasyl Motrichenko on the Third Sunday after Easter
April 13, 2024
Let’s look for Christ, and, having found him, let’s hold fast so that while living here on earth with him, we can be together with him in his kingdom. Having as an example the humble myrrh-bearing women, let us hasten with myrrh of our good deeds to meet Christ, who rose from the dead, overcame death, and gave us all eternal life.
(Stychyra of Vespers).
Dear in Christ!
On today’s Sunday, the Holy Church glorifies the glorious myrrh-bearing women, and the Holy Scriptures present us with their feats, faith, and trust in the Lord. Because when they came to the tomb, they saw an angel who said to them, “Do not be amazed;… He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6).
Seeing the empty coffin and burial cloths, they were surprised and left the tomb with fear and trepidation, but, overcoming their disbelief and fear, they informed the apostles that Christ had risen; he was no longer in the tomb; he was alive. And the actual episode of today’s Gospel presents us with faithful women who spread this message not only to the apostles but to all ends of the earth. It is women who were considered less valuable than men who go to the grave first, and an angel appears to them, announcing the good news. These women, who go to Christ with sadness and anxiety, show us a good example of humble service. They did what they could for Jesus, and this is an example for all of us Christians — to do all the good that is in our power for our neighbours, regardless of fear, contempt, or anxiety, and the Lord, who sees the heart of a person, will reward everyone for his actions. The women, going to the grave, wondered who would roll away the stone that sealed the tomb, but they saw a miracle. So it is in our lives. If we surrender to the Lord’s guidance, be faithful without hesitation, and do even what seems impossible, then the Lord, who miraculously rolled away the stone from the grave, will perform a miracle in our lives as well. But for this, you need to believe and trust the Lord, as the myrrh-bearing women did.
So, dear in Christ, the Lord Jesus, who rose from the dead, sent his angel to roll back the stone from the tomb and to tell the women about the resurrection. The one who appeared to his disciples at the breaking of bread on the road to Emmaus, the one who called the faithless Thomas to put his finger into his pierced side, is open to everyone and speaks to us: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Only believe and open your heart to the perception of God’s grace, purify your souls and bodies, be faithful, and accept the Lord’s teaching with trust. As myrrh-bearing women, who, out of love for Christ, were faithful to him not only during his ministry on earth but also during the days of his suffering and crucifixion on the cross. They were not afraid of scorn from people or threats from the guard who guarded the tomb, but with love and faith, they went to Christ to pay him due respect. And let us, having as our example the devoted service of myrrh-bearing women, be faithful in spite of all obstacles. Let’s look for Christ, and, having found him, let’s hold fast so that while living here on earth with him, we can be together with him in his kingdom. Having as an example the humble myrrh-bearing women, let us hasten with myrrh of our good deeds to meet Christ, who rose from the dead, overcame death, and gave us all eternal life.
Christ is Risen!
Indeed, He is Risen!
