’They thought it an idle tale.’ From today’s gospel, Luke 24:1-12.
Luke tells his readers that this is what the apostles thought of what the women who had gone to the tomb were saying to them about Jesus’ body not being in the tomb. This phrase is telling, I think, partly because of the cultural differences that applied in those days as women were regarded as unreliable witnesses. They were not allowed to speak in synagogue or sit with the men, and these women were going to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body with the customary spices. That’s a horrible thing to have to do, especially after scourging and crucifixion, and today, we think of the women, and men, who have to work with dead and mutiliated bodies in Ukraine and Russia, or the conflict between Israel, Gaza and Hamas. But these unreliable witnesses, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women with them, confirmed that Jesus was not in the tomb.
The disciples think this is an idle tale, nonsense, and don’t believe what the women say. But then Peter decides to see for himself – he goes to the tomb and sees the grave cloths, now not needed. Luke says he went home amazed.
These apostles had been with Jesus during his ministry; had watched, waited and prayed with him; had been at the Last Supper and in the Garden of Gethsemane after being prepared by him for what was to happen. Yet still, they did not believe was what happening. How could this be true? Easier to dismiss the testimony of the women. And yet, what they said WAS true. And that truth is borne out by the fact that today, over two thousand years later, we are celebrating the resurrection – hope renewed and faith restored, new life and fresh beginnings albeit with the marks and scars of what we’ve been through, just as shown in Jesus’ resurrected body.
Like those first disciples, we may find things hard to accept, especially in matters of faith. But, as Luke tells us, so did those first disciples. So if anyone says anything to us that we find hard to believe and think to be an idle tale or nonsense, perhaps, just perhaps, is it possible they may be telling the truth? For, despite it seeming so hard to believe, Christ IS risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!