Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers (2)

St. Jeremiah

Title

The Duty of Humble Service

Outline

What does humble service look like?

I would suggest that our readings indicate three things

First, it is motivated by love rather than self-love

Second, it is focused on Jesus

Third, it does not care what others think

Acts shows us two types of love

The first is the love of the Twelve for the community. They could recognize what their priorities were, they could realize that they could not do everything, they did not have a need to control (a type of self-love), and they were not threatened by raising up other leaders.

The community had identified a problem caused by linguistic and cultural differences, but had no problem to solve it.

The Twelve solved it by making members of the aggrieved community responsible for both their Greek widows and the Hebrew widows.

They chose “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” These men would gain a reputation for their preaching and evangelism, apparently caring for the physical needs quietly. They showed the second type of love in that they were willing to care for the physical needs of others.

Then, after having ordained such men, the Twelve focused on their calling, preaching the Word and prayer. They never seem bothered by the success of the seven.

In Mark, we find a focused humble service

Joseph risked his status as a member of the council and conceivably his life in requesting the body of a crucified person from Pilate. If asked, I suspect he took a “one-down” position.

Joseph spent significant money on the shroud, on spices, and on the tomb (at least if others gospels are correct that it was new and was intended for Joseph). He also made himself unable to eat the Passover, a virtue Tobit had as well.

The women showed respect to the Sabbath, and paid attention to women’s duties with respect to the dead - thus the spices. They took some risk in going to the tomb, but minimized it by going after sunrise. The result was an overwhelming vision and message, which they rushed to deliver in fear and trembling, perhaps realizing that they would not be believed because they were women. They obeyed God rather than human beings. And they were regardless of their own reputation in that they did not greet those they met on the way properly, as Elisha’s servant also did on urgent work. (“they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.”)

Brothers and sisters, such is humble service

It seeks the good of the other

It is prepared to do a humbling job, not to appear humble, but because it is the call of God.

It has no need to retain control, but is happy to set others in positions of authority when that will forward God’s interests.

Let us look at our lives and see whether we are like the myrrh-bearing women, Joseph, and the Twelve, or perhaps whether we are called to be more like them in one area or another.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-8-2022: Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women or Third Sunday of Pascha

EPISTLE

Acts 6:1–7

6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the Twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-8-2022: Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women or Third Sunday of Pascha

GOSPEL

Mark 15:43–16:8

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

16  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to 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. 7  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Notes

Sunday, May 1, 2022 | Pentecostarion

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 5-8-2022: Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women or Third Sunday of Pascha

SUNDAY OF THE MYRRHBEARING WOMEN OR THIRD SUNDAY OF PASCHA

Bright Vestments

Matins Gospel Luke 24:1–12

Epistle Acts 6:1–7

Gospel Mark 15:43–16:8