On the third Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. The first witnesses of our Lord’s resurrection were women who went to the tomb with oil and spices to anoint the body of Jesus after His crucifixion. They came to offer Him one last act of love: to anoint His body for burial.

When they arrived early in the morning, they were astounded, sad, afraid and disappointed as they did not expect the tomb to be empty. In amazement, these women– Mary the Theotokos, Mary Magdalene, two other Mary’s, Johanna, Salome, Martha, Susanna and others whose names we do not know–  received the startling news from an angel that their Lord and Master had been raised from the dead. The angel told them: “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you.” They were the first to share in the joy of Pascha.

We have a lot to learn from these women.  Just as they came to offer their last act of love for Jesus, we also have many opportunities to serve Christ, in His Body, the Church. Every time we visit the sick, give of our time and other resources to the poor, provide someone without transportation a ride to church, hosting a coffee hour, inviting others to visit our liturgies and services, or otherwise doing what needs to be done for the flourishing of our parish … we offer our acts of love.  Out of love for Christ, let us all answer the call to serve Him as we are needed in His Body, the Church.