Open-ended gospel leaves us to ponder

April 16, 2006 -- Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord

By Fr. Michael Stubbs

	Fr. Mike Stubbs

Several persons can witness the same event, but provide accounts which substantially agree on the main facts, while differing slightly in the details. All four gospels report a visit to Jesus' tomb Easter Sunday morning, but with minor variations. Since the gospel reading for the Easter Vigil, Mark 16:1-7, can also serve for Easter Sunday morning, we will examine that one.

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The three women who visit Jesus' tomb in Mark's account have several reasons to be amazed. First, when they arrive, they see that the huge stone has been rolled away from the entrance. Secondly, when they enter the tomb, they see that Jesus' body is no longer there. Instead, they find a young man clothed in a white robe, whom we assume is an angel. But most amazing of all is the angel's message to them. "He has been raised; he is not here."

It is a bit overwhelming. Their amazement then turns into terror. So Mark's gospel continues with verse 8, which our lectionary reading omits: "Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." That would be an odd place to end. But that is exactly where scripture scholars believe that Mark's gospel originally ended. Verses 9-20 of chapter 16 were added by another author.

How can we explain the abrupt conclusion at verse 8? Some suggest that Mark originally had written more, but somehow that part of the text was lost.

On the other hand, perhaps Mark intended his gospel to end in an abrupt manner. Maybe he wanted to shock those hearing the gospel. Maybe he wanted to leave his gospel open-ended.

Consider it this way. The three women do not only receive the news about Jesus' resurrection from the young man, they also receive a commission to share that news with others. "Go and tell his disciples and Peter."

That means that the early Christian community to whom Mark addressed the gospel could identify with those three women. After all, the early Christians had also received a commission to share the news of Jesus' resurrection with others. They had received this commission when they also were weighed down with fear, like the three women. The early Christians were afraid of persecution by the government, which could result in severe sanctions, even the death penalty. The early Christians were afraid of being ostracized by friends and relatives. Ugly rumors were floating around about the Christians. Despite those fears, their faith in the Risen Lord gave them the responsibility of proclaiming that faith to others.

Mark's gospel, in its open-ended conclusion, left those early Christians who heard it with the question; did those three women overcome their fears, and carry out the young man's instructions? And that question would suggest another to those early Christians; would they in turn overcome their own fears, and proclaim their faith in the Risen Lord? As we celebrate Easter, we should ask ourselves the same question.

(Fr. Stubbs, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, has a master's degree in theology from Harvard.)