Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom321Homily LXXXVI.John xx. 10, 11“Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher,weeping.”[1.] Full of feeling somehow is the female sex, and more 2528 inclined to pity. I say this, lest thoushouldest wonder how it could be that Mary wept bitterly at the tomb, while Peter was in no wayso affected. For, “The disciples,” it saith, “went away unto their own home”; but she stood sheddingtears. Because hers was a feeble nature, and she as yet knew not accurately the account of theResurrection; whereas they having seen the linen clothes and believed, departed to their own homesin astonishment. And wherefore went they not straightway to Galilee, as had been commandedthem before the Passion? They waited for the others, perhaps, and besides they were yet at theheight of their amazement. These then went their way: but she stood at the place, for, as I havesaid, even the sight of the tomb tended greatly to comfort her. At any rate, thou seest her, the moreto ease her grief, stooping down, 2529 and desiring to behold the place where the body lay. Andtherefore she received no small reward for this her great zeal. For what the disciples saw not, thissaw the woman first, Angels 2530 sitting, the one at the feet, the other at the head, in white; even thedress 2531 was full of much radiance 2532 and joy. Since the mind of the woman was not sufficientlyelevated to accept the Resurrection from the proof of the napkins, something more takes place, shebeholdeth something more; Angels sitting in shining garments, so as to raise her thus awhile fromher passionate sorrow, and to comfort her. But they said nothing to her concerning the Resurrection,yet is she gently led forward in this doctrine. She saw countenances bright and unusual; she sawshining garments, she heard a sympathizing voice. For what saith (the Angel)?Ver. 13 . “Woman, why weepest thou?”By all these circumstances, as though a door was being opened for her, she was led by littleand little to the knowledge of the Resurrection. And the manner of their sitting invited her to questionthem, for they showed that they knew what had taken place; on which account they did not sittogether either, but apart from one another. For because it was not likely that she would dare atonce to question them, both by questioning her, and by the manner of their sitting, they bring herto converse. What then saith she? She speaks very warmly and affectionately;“They 2533 have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.”2528i.e. more than men.2529Ver. 11 , latter part. “ And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher. ” N.T.2530Ver. 12 . “ And seeth two Angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body ofJesus had lain. ” N.T.2531or, and the appearance, τὸ σχῆμα2532φαιδρότητος2533“ because they, ” N.T.483