Today, we turn to Mark’s account of the Resurrection. Having already journeyed through other testimonies, we feel the profound weight of this mystery. While these accounts vary in detail, time, and emotional resonance, such diversity only highlights the sheer immensity of this new way of life.

Abbot Jeremy gives insight to the Resurrection accounts:

It is not possible to coordinate the resurrection accounts of the four evangelists. They are not consistent in their details. They create different moods. They evoke different reactions. They raise and answer theological questions differently and leave other questions unanswered. At first glance this may seem disturbing, even cause for doubt. But actually the fact that such a coordination is impossible is rooted in the new reality itself of resurrection. The texts refuse to let themselves be tamed into a simple narrative of just another something that happened and can be told. We are in a new realm now where language and narration struggle, and the different narrative styles and details of the evangelists are Spirit-inspired means that put us into contact with this new reality, this new realm of inexhaustible richness, a reality (98).

The text refuses to be tamed! With this in mind, we consider Mark’s account of the Resurrection.

Mark gives a very brief account in his final chapter. The brevity conveys a sense of urgency in announcing the Gospel to the world. A careful reading will point out that at the Easter Vigil, we only hear Mark 16:1-7 in Year B. We are left pondering the women’s amazement. Mark emphasizes three truths: Jesus has been raised, he is not in the tomb, and this empty tomb should be carefully observed with wonderment. The final verse of this Gospel is left out! It states,

And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (16:8).

As mentioned, this detail is left out at the Easter Vigil, so that we can hold on to the wonderment of the women. At the same time, we are left to draw our own conclusions about our lives. Either Jesus remains in the grave, and my faith ends there, or the tomb is empty, and I am a witness to the Risen Lord.

Throughout this week, the Church has proclaimed different perspectives of the same account as the new life of the Resurrection refuses to be tamed by the text.

On this Saturday of the Octave, the neophytes in the early Church removed their white baptismal garments and returned to their regular lives, and they were exhorted to witness the Resurrection. Let it be so with us. As people renewed in our baptismal promises, we witness the love of Christ. As the Octave draws to a close, let us rejoice that Christ has trampled death. Death is now the doorway we all pass to fall into the arms of our loving God.