The resurrection of the Lord is the
regeneration of human nature. It is the resuscitation and re-creation
of the first Adam, whom sin led to death, and who because of death,
again was made to retrace his steps on the earth from which he was
made. The resurrection is the return to immortal life. Whereas no one
saw that first man when he was created and given life—because no man
existed yet at that time—woman was the first person to see him after he
had received the breath of life by divine inbreathing.
For after him, Eve was the first human
being. Likewise no one saw the second Adam, who is the Lord, rise from
the dead, for none of his followers were near by and the soldiers
guarding the tomb were so shaken that they were like dead men.
Following the resurrection, however, it was a woman who saw Him first
before the others, as we have heard from Saint Mark’s Gospel today.
After his resurrection Jesus appeared on the morning of the Lord’s Day [Sunday] to Mary Magdalene first.
It seems that the Evangelist is speaking
clearly about the time of the Lord’s resurrection – that it was morning
– that he appeared to Mary Magdalene, and that he appeared to her at
the time of the resurrection. But, if we pay some attention it will
become clear that this is not what he says.
Earlier in this passage, in agreement
with the other Evangelists, Saint Mark says that Mary Magdalene had come
to the tomb earlier with the other Myrrhbearing women, and that she
went away when she saw it empty.