The Ancient Witnesses

224 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

spread her fame far and wide, and sending the bride to the Bridegroom!” 123 “Do you understand?” asked Father Greg. “The angel sends the bride, which is the Church, to the Bridegroom, who is Christ.” Chrysologus now read and commented on Matthew 28:8-9, So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. “While on their way,” the Bishop explained, “the Lord met them—Greetings!—and in greeting them, he did not overawe them with his power, but lovingly presented himself. In confronting them, he did not confuse them but honored them as the beloved, not domineeringly, but as a loving bridegroom with his bride.” 124 The angel, Chrysologus explained, rolled back the stone from the tomb in order to build the faith of the women, the faith of the disciples to whom they will be sent, and the faith of all Christ’s future witnesses. Here, as elsewhere in his sermon, Chrysologus used repetition to drive home his point. “An angel rolled away the stone, not to help the Lord out of the tomb, but to show the world that the Lord had already risen. He rolled away the stone, not to help the Lord resurrect, but to give his servants the faith to

123 Same as previous note, 76.2, page 465.

124 Same as previous note. In his resurrection appearance to the women, Christ acted gently and in accordance with “the law of betrothal.” See Deut. 22:23-28; and compare 1 Cor.7:25-38.