Gospel of the Sunday (Mark 16:1–7)
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming, they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another: Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe: and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not affrighted: you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen, he is not here, behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there you shall see him, as he told you.
From a homily of Saint Gregory the Great
Mary Magdalen came early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She ran therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
What means it, brethren, that Mary Magdalen, seeking the Lord, came while it was yet dark, unless that she sought him while her mind was still in the darkness of doubt? For she sought him, and found him not; she sought him, and wept. She had seen him dead, and sought him in the sepulchre, as though he were still dead. Therefore she sought him indeed, but did not yet understand that he was risen.
But the force of love brought it to pass that she persevered in seeking. For when the disciples, who had come with her, went away again, she remained standing at the sepulchre. And because she persevered in seeking, she deserved to find. For desire grows by seeking; and when desire grows, the soul becomes capable of receiving what it desires.
Therefore it came to pass that the Lord first appeared to her who loved him most. For as she sought him more than the others, so she saw him before the others. For truth is revealed to the soul according to the measure of love.
And consider, brethren, what is written: The other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre, yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre. Afterwards went in also that disciple who came first to the sepulchre.
What is signified by these two disciples, but the two peoples? Peter signifies the Jewish people, the other disciple the Gentile people. The Gentile people came first to faith, yet entered not in; for though it already believed, it still hesitated to penetrate the mysteries of faith. But Peter came later and entered; for the Jewish people, which shall come later to faith, shall then behold fully the mysteries of redemption.
It is written that they saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. What means this, brethren? The linen cloths which had wrapped the body signify the Church, which consists of many members. But the napkin, which had covered the head, signifies our Lord himself, who is the head of the Church. For as the head is above the body, so Christ is above his Church.
Therefore the napkin was found wrapped apart, because Christ is separated from his Church by the glory of his Resurrection. He who for us suffered in weakness, now stands above all in immortality.
It is further added: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. They saw therefore and believed, yet they understood not. For faith often precedes understanding; first the soul believes, and afterwards understands what it believes. For what reason cannot grasp, faith embraces.
Let us therefore, beloved brethren, seek him with love, as Mary sought him; seek him with tears, as she sought him; seek him with perseverance, as she sought him. For he who so seeks shall surely find. And when he is found, the soul is filled with joy, because she sees him whom she loves.
To him be honour and glory, who is risen from the dead, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.