The Courage of Women

Gospel: Matthew 28: 8-15

Jesus tells the women not to be afraid, which is a curious exhortation.  These women came to a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers, knowing they would likely be turned aside in their appointed task.  They then encounter the risen Jesus but are not afraid - they instead pay homage to him.  What then, are these women to fear?  It is the task that lies ahead, for they are to go and tell the menfolk about the resurrection of Jesus - a task for which they are likely to be mocked and disbelieved, which in fact does take place.  

But as they have throughout the Gospel the women carry the message of faith without fear into the world.  Mary and Elizabeth carried the message of angels with them among unbelieving husbands.  The Samaritan woman who was an outcast even among her own people carried the message of Jesus as the Messiah to her entire town who came to believe through her.  Now these women - who did not run away but stayed at the cross with Jesus - will carry the message of the risen Jesus to others.

Our Christian faith is a faith built upon the faith of women, strong women who faced doubt and opposition from men and the larger society in general.  At every stage in the Gospel it was always the women who were the first to believe and the first to carry the message forward.  Let us honor their legacy and imitate their courage as we seek to live the faith we inherited from them.