The following is the script from this week’s Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. (Orthodixie podcasts air Sunday through Saturday.) You don’t need an iPod to listen to Podcasts and you don’t have to catch the Podcasts “live.” Go to Ancient Faith Radio and click Tune in Here to listen “live” on your computer; or, go to the Orthodixie page (or any of the others) in the side margin to listen to individual Podcasts at your leisure.
Men and Women are Different.
By “different,” I don’t mean just physically … nor am I here referring only to Ketchup.
Ketchup you may ask — ?
You married men know about the Ketchup, right?
“Honey, where’s the ketchup?”
“Top shelf in the fridge,” she says.
“I looked there – in fact, I’ve looked everywhere. It’s not in the fridge! Are we out?”
At this point the wife walks right up to the stunningly apparent Ketchup bottle, sitting on the top shelf in the fridge and hands it to the man. It’s like magic. This also works for socks, ties, and – though he’ll never learn – directions and road maps.
As I told someone recently – a man whose wife had just found the missing baptismal cross in his jacket pocket – “You know … Adam would never have been able to find that Tree all by himself if his life had depended on it!”
Anyway …
In the Gospel for the second Sunday after Pascha, we read about the women who went to the Tomb early in the morning to anoint the body of our Lord. Remember, Jesus had been hastily buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea with the help of the other secret disciple, Nicodemus. These two men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, are included in the full list of Myrrhbearers, but generally this day is understood as the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women.
Of the remaining 11 disciples — all MEN — not one of them is listed as a Myrrhbearer. The men who had followed him when He’d said, “Come follow me;” the men who appear throughout the Gospel narratives … those men? They abandoned him after the Crucifixion.
Now here we see a band of women disciples making their way toward the Tomb with only God knew what awaiting them.
This is important because, and the more astute among you are already aware of this: There is a big difference between Men and Women.
Take, for instance, men. Men are all about doing.
Do this, did this, accomplished that … what next?
Women (you all know this) are about relationships.
This person, that child, my sister, mother-in-law, friend, etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
Any priest could admit it’s true: Women and men even confess differently.
A man comes to Confession: “Did this, failed at this, accomplished this, working on this … oh, and uh, did that.”
The woman comes and, through a circular dialogue, intimates her shortcomings and struggles within the web of relationships in her life.
There was even a popular book some years ago entitled Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Many of you, no doubt, are familiar with some of this — for instance …
And I paraphrase:
“When a Man gets upset he doesn’t talk about what’s bothering him. He never burdens another Man with his problem unless his friend’s assistance is necessary to solve the problem. Instead he becomes very quiet and goes to his private cave to think about his problem, mulling it over to find a solution.
If he can’t find a solution then he does something to forget his problems, like reading the news or playing a game.” (p.30)
Or – as was the case with Peter & the disciples, going fishing …
“When a Woman becomes upset or is stressed … to find relief, she seeks out someone she trusts and then talks in great detail about the problems of her day. When Women share feelings of being overwhelmed, they suddenly feel better.
Women are not ashamed of having problems. Their egos are dependent not on looking ‘competent’ but rather on being in loving relationships. They openly share feelings of being overwhelmed, confused, hopeless, and exhausted. (p.31)
To feel better, women talk about past problems, future problems, potential problems, even problems that have no solutions.
We see this represented in the Gospel story. The women are on their way to the Tomb and talking. “And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?”
Men are different …
“A man under stress tends to focus on one problem and forget others …” (p.36)
Compare the beautiful story of the women at the Tomb to that of Peter and John approaching the Tomb. They raced each other! They were men. It is not recorded that John and Peter, true to their nature, discussed anything on the way … they just tried to get there first!
(But, you see, they’d already heard the Tomb was empty.)
In choosing to announce the Resurrection through the daughters of Eve, the Holy Myrrhbearers, we see the Annunciation in another light. Whereas earlier, a young Maiden had heard the words of the Archangel Gabriel in private; here, an Angel announces to the Mother of God and the faithful women disciples the Resurrection. The way to Paradise has been re-opened, for our Lord has destroyed death by Death. Go! Announce to the sons of Adam the New Day, the Resurrection.
And, they did …
They Still Do!
Today the New Eve hears that her son, the New Adam, has conquered death and, by His glorious Resurrection, has paved the way for the sons and daughters of the Church — you, me, yours and mine — to Paradise!
Oh we’re still plenty different – no doubt; and there’s plenty of women still having to nudge the men they love toward that Empty Tomb.
Grandmothers & sisters, Moms & cousins, Widows & daughters – and, yes, even MEN! –
Let us all — with that same zeal; that same conviction and joy; through our word and example — announce to others that Paradise is again available to us all!
“Male and female – He created them …”
By the Empty Tomb and His glorious Resurrection, He RE-CREATED them!
(Adam, Eve – you & me.)
Encouraged by the courage of the Holy Myrrhbearers let us say:
Christ is Risen!
Indeed, He is Risen!
Image Source
Here’s word from Deacon Raphael Barberg about the efforts of Orthodox organizations, including International Orthodox Christian Charities, on the Virgina Tech campus. Your help (and prayers) appreciated!
