Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

Today’s Lesson: Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

Sunday Coloring Page »
The Ministry of the Myrrhbearing Women »

For the entire family

Music

Continue singing and learning “Christ is risen” in both English and Greek all the way until the Ascension – check out this introduction to the hymn and music.

Hymn-Singing for Young People »
From the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians

Preschool

Coloring sheet 

The Myrrh-Bearers by Fr. John Matusiak » 
Page 1 of the PDF

Activity: The Empty Tomb Role Play

  • Create a “tomb” from sofa cushions and pillows or blankets, with a large cushion as the “stone” to be rolled away.

  • Designate children or other family members to play the roles of angel (“young man” in a white robe), Myrrh-Bearing women, and disciples.

  • Have the Myrrh-Bearing women enter the room with the tomb while the disciples “hide” in another room with the door closed.

  • This week’s Gospel reading from Mark ends by saying the women were afraid and told no one, but the other Evangelists explain that Mary did go to the disciples afterward. Have the Myrrh-Bearers go find the disciples and explain what they saw, and what they didn’t see.

Elementary school

Discussion questions

  • Where did they bury Jesus?
    Answer: A cave

  • What did they use to close the cave?
    Answer: They rolled a giant rock to close it

  • Who came to the cave to anoint Jesus’s body?
    Answer: Three women. We call them the “Myrrh-Bearing Women.”

  • What happened when they got to the cave?
    Answer: A man in a white robe told them that Jesus had risen

Craft and activity

Middle school

Discussion questions

  • Who took Jesus’s body to a “new tomb”?
    Answer: Joseph of Arimathea

  • Why were the women going to the tomb?
    Answer: To anoint Jesus’s body

  • What were they saying to each other as they walked to the tomb?
    Answer: They were wondering who was going to roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb.

Action item for the week:

Jesus’s empty tomb was a sign of hope when everything was hopeless. It’s normal to feel sad and even hopeless sometimes, especially during a time of widespread disease and many deaths. This week, try looking for signs of God’s hope and promise in your life, even if they are hard to believe right now.

High school

Article

Finding Courage - from the Orthodox Church in America Department of Christian Education » 

Discussion questions

  • Risk and courage are outstanding elements in the lives of the Myrrh-Bearing women and also Joseph of Arimathea, who asked for and buried the body of Jesus Christ. Why is it important for us to know those details?

  • As courageous as the Myrrh-Bearing women were, the last line says that they said nothing because they were afraid. Why were they afraid?

  • Have you ever had the truth and were courageous in speaking it? Have you ever been afraid? What was the difference?

  • How can we be more courageous about speaking our faith?

Journal topic

  • Has it ever been difficult or scary for you to tell the truth about something?

  • Were you afraid of what might happen, or whether or not you’d be believed?

  • Why do you think it’s sometimes so difficult to tell the truth

  • Try putting yourself in the Myrrh-Bearers’ shoes (sandals). What do you think they were thinking and feeling after Jesus was crucified and buried?

  • Why do you think they were afraid after the angel told them Jesus had risen from the dead?

Action item for the week:

Identify an area in your life in which you could be more courageous. Write down three specific actions you can take to help you move in that direction.For example, you could decide that you would like to do more to take a stand against harassment on social media, and then write three posts or messages telling bullies to back off, or giving encouragement to those being attacked.

Young adult

Bible Study

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers: A Tomb for Jesus, the Women Disciples, and Serving Others. »

Printed copies available for purchase from Orthodox Marketplace »

Adult

Articles

Podcast

Fr. Thomas examines who the Myrrh-Bearing women were and clears up some misconceptions about Mary Magdalene.

“The Myrrh-Bearing Women: Speaking the Truth in Love” by Fr. Thomas Hopko »

Before you end your Sunday School session 

Light a candle and pray for those who are sick and suffering; those who are needy; those who are well; and our church family,  that we may all be together again soon to worship in our beautiful church

Light a candle and say a prayer » 

Gospel Reading

Mark 15:43–47; 16:1–8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, brought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Arika Madouros