Now when He rose early on the first day of the week

Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

- Mark 16:9-13

Good Easter Monday! In many countries, today is a holiday. A bishop in the Orthodox church pointed out on his blog that Easter Sunday is the Eighth Day. That is, it is the day after the week of Creation, when all of creation is renewed in the Resurrection. The empty tomb, which we read about on Saturday, tells us of the mystery that opens the door to this Eighth Day.

We recall from Saturday's reading and commentary that the women, the Holy Myrrhbearers, had gone to the tomb with spices (aromatic oil) in order to anoint Jesus for burial. There they had been met by a "man" who told them startling news: that Jesus is risen, and that he will go before them to Galilee, where they will see him. The women fled in terror from the empty tomb, afraid to speak to anyone about what they saw and heard. But today is the day after the Eighth Day. A new creation is born; man is renewed in this transfiguring reality. And the good news is announced.

Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. I think it's important that we understand this picture here. The disciples and apostles are in mourning. We are told that they are mourning and weeping. But the women - the Holy Myrrhbearers - have acted. They are the ones who went to the tomb to anoint their Beloved. They showed great courage. And the first to whom Christ appears on this first day of the New Creation is Mary Magdalene. It is important to note that which our evangelist points out to us: this is a woman out of whom had been cast seven demons. The new creation, resurrected as Christ was - with whom he shares his nature - is represented perfectly in Mary Magdalene. Those who have been healed by him are his family; they are those who share his reality, his nature, his gift of grace. And she is the first to receive the good news, among the women at the grave with the anointing oil, and the first to whom Christ appears. Those who are made well in Him are the new creation; we accept His gift and we become the fruits of the promise of his new world, transfigured and healed.

And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. My study bible has a note here about the failure to believe this news, that failure to believe the report of the Resurrection is worthy of blame. We will see in tomorrow's reading how Jesus, in his risen form, will teach his followers. But for today, they do not believe the report of Mary Magdalene.

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. My study bible notes the words here: that Christ appeared to two of his disciples in another form. The note reads: "Christ's resurrected body transcends not only time and space, but physical appearance as well. He was sometimes recognizable to his disciples and sometimes not." What are we to make of this? I go back to the words of the proclamation of St. John Chrysostom, quoted in my commentary on Saturday: "In the grave with Your body, but in hell with Your soul as God, in Paradise with the thief, and on the throne with Your Father and the Spirit, O Christ, you are uncontained." Christ remains uncontained. At work in this new creation, this renewal of human beings, he is with us, and he will be with us in new form. Holiness is infinitely creative; Grace has reached us on this new Monday of the creation, in new form. And we must not forget that we live in these times after the Eighth Day and in the new creation of renewal: new forms of holiness are always to be found by virtue of the Grace that is now at work in the world. Even though Christ has now appeared to two of the disciples, the rest still do not believe and do not yet share in the Good News of the Resurrection.

It's interesting also to note that some manuscripts of Mark's gospel do not include the verses 9-20 of this chapter. In later traditions there are actually several endings to be found. Scholarship is in disagreement about why some very early manuscripts do not have it, and yet as early as the beginning of the second century there is reference to it in commentary. Regardless, these last verses (which will continue tomorrow) have been considered canonical and inspired. So, we can ask ourselves an interesting question: without the Good News of the risen Christ, what would we understand? Where would we be? We know - as the evangelist clearly points out - that "those who had been with Him" did not believe. So, if the first to whom He appeared is Mary Magdalene - she who had been healed of seven demons by His power - then what are we to make of "those who are with him?" The ones touched by his power are those who come to be his family, who are truly "with him" and to whom he appears. How does this relate to you? The good news is the good news. True testimony is true testimony. But we have a deeper reality to touch here. By grace, we, too, are among those who are with him. And this is where we begin the renewal and transfiguration of this week after the Eighth Day, in some traditions (especially of the East) called "Bright Week," reflecting the glory of this transfiguration and renewal in the Resurrection and its promise for each of us. How do we then continue to walk in that light? We go through the gospels, we understand the events recorded for us of Jesus' life in this world as incarnate man, and his appearance in Resurrection to his followers. But we, too, share in this resurrection. We, too, share in this "new form." We walk with him. And this is where our story begins in a sense. Our story begins on the Eighth Day. We who follow today are witnesses to the forms of grace that appear in our lives as we walk this walk of the new creation, as we call on transformation and renewal and healing to make ourselves a part of this family, and in faith we continue to testify to our own Good News. So, what becomes important after this Eighth Day, and for those of us who follow after these events as believers, is our walk - our spiritual experience with this Risen Christ. We know of his life, and his crucifixion. We accept the Good News of his Resurrection. How do you walk this walk with the risen Christ?