Jesus Appears To The Holy Women

“And they went out quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, running to tell His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them, saying: ‘All Hail.’ But they came up and took hold of His feet and adored Him. Then Jesus said to them ‘Fear not. Go, tell My brethren that they go into Galilee; there they shall see me’” (Matt. 28, 8-10).

First Prelude:


Picture the holy women kneeling at the feet of Jesus, and admire the mildness of the Lord in speaking to them.

Second Prelude:


O Jesus, grant me grace to understand Thy goodness toward all who love Thee, and to promote Thy glory by my confidence and gratitude.

First Point — The Goodness of Jesus Toward the Holy Women

While the women hurry back to carry out the injunction of the angel, Jesus meets them on the way. Oh, the tender solicitude of our Blessed Lord toward these women! He does not say to them as to Magdalen, “Do not touch Me.” They are timid, and need encouragement. “Hail, fear not,” he says to them, permitting them to embrace His feet and to give Him proofs of their love and reverence. Admire the goodness of Jesus. How well He knows our shortcomings and with infinite compassion adapts His graces to our weakness. Should we not confidently abandon ourselves to our Good Shepherd, Who so lovingly cares for every one of His sheep? Oh, that with us as with the holy women love might triumph over fear! “Fear not!” Thus the Lord speaks also to us when we go cheerfully whither obedience bids us go. He is ever near us to bless our labors; now, as our Lord, to direct us; then, as our Father, to console us; again, as our Master, to instruct us, as our Friend, to encourage us. Let us in humility and confidence lay all our cares and worries at His sacred feet. We will remain near Him in holy recollection, especially when He comes to us in Holy Communion; we will embrace His sacred feet, so that nothing shall ever separate us from Him.

Let us beg the Lord to let us often hear the sweetly consoling words, “Fear not!” especially when the thought of death and the judgments of God fills us with fear and anxiety! Animated with a childlike fear of God, we will love Jesus above all else, that we may approach our Divine Master with joy, when He shall reveal Himself to us in the splendor of His glory.

Second Point — Jesus Bids the Holy Women Announce His Resurrection

Christ’s commission to the holy women conveys an important lesson. Down through the ages He wills to honor these noble women who followed Him to Calvary and there consoled His loving Heart by their fidelity and devotedness. They persevered with Him while His chosen disciples, whom He had overwhelmed with graces, forsook Him. Now, when He is gloriously risen He instructs and consoles these humble souls, even before He appears to His Apostles. Yet, they are commissioned to announce the glad tidings to the Apostles. The almighty Lord loves to reveal Himself to the weak, and in His goodness, wills to reward above all the love that is bestowed upon Him. For this reason Christ wills to manifest His resurrection, the treasures of His infinite love, to Magdalen and her companions.

How lovingly does not the Saviour prepare to comfort His disciples! He has commissioned Magdalen to bring them the joyful tidings. Now He sends the other women to them. To assure them of His perfect pardon, and to show them that He has forgotten their weakness, Jesus repeatedly calls the Apostles His brethren. How touching the love revealed in this word! They had acted as untrustworthy friends, as faithless servants, and Jesus calls them brethren. How good is the Lord to all that love Him! How little does He think of insults, of a guilt-laden past! Jesus wishes to be our brother, too; but how can we even be mindful of such condescension without casting ourselves at His feet, full of shame and confusion, and in bitterness of soul craving His pardon for the many infidelities of which we have been guilty? Could we ever hesitate to place all our trust in Him? Do we strive to imitate the love of Jesus, by forgetting injuries and requiting evil with good?

Affections:


O Divine Saviour, Thou hast conferred even a greater favor upon me than upon the holy women. How often am I permitted to come to Thy Tabernacle, to kneel at Thy feet with loving reverence and receive Thee in Holy Communion! Oh, that I were always animated with the fervor of the holy women! My good Jesus, Who knowest all my needs and incessantly bestowest Thy most tender solicitude upon me, grant that I correspond to such countless proofs of Thy love. Give me an ever-increasing confidence in Thy infinite goodness, that, penetrated with lively gratitude toward Thee, I may exercise heart-felt love and indulgence toward my neighbor, and thus render myself deserving of Thy greater grace and favor.

Resolution:


I will frequently call to mind the presence of God, and with loving confidence turn to Him in all my needs.

Spiritual Bouquet:


“Fear not, Go, tell My brethren that they shall see Me.”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary…