I have written and said it so many times that I am almost reticent to repeat it here. However, the fact that St. Matthew wrote his Gospel for the community of Jewish Christians is an important part of coming to understand his “appearance” story which we hear today.
First of all, we hear how Jesus meets and calls Mary Magdalen by name. In the Middle Eastern culture, knowledge of someone’s name is something that is cherished and which indicates a relationship that goes beyond a mere acquaintance. Israelites did not indiscriminately tell others their names until they were sure that the person could be trusted. Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus until he calls her name.
He tells her to go to the disciples and to tell them that he will meet them in Galilee. This detail does not correspond to the evidence in the Gospels of Luke and John. So why does he include this detail? Galilee was where the adventure had started. Galilee was their home. Galilee more readily accepted Jesus while Jerusalem failed to recognize him and eventually executed him. The apostles will be commissioned to go forth to preach and baptize. St. Matthew wants them to start just as Jesus started.
After we hear this appearance story, St. Matthew tells us how the non-Christian community tried to cover up the story of Jesus’ resurrection. Again, let us remember that Matthew is writing for the Jerusalem community. However, he is writing perhaps as many as thirty years after the actual event. Many of those who place their faith in Jesus would not have been eye witnesses. They have come to believe by what they have heard from others and would have a difficult time understanding why the other Jews did not believe. St. Matthew’s explanation is offered for this segment of the community.
If we place the four Gospels side by side, we will find many such discrepancies, seeming disagreement on the details. However, it is important for us to remember that there were no eye-witnesses to the Resurrection. No one would be able to testify to the fact. In addition, the empty tomb was discovered by women, forbidden by law to testify in a court of law. In other words, the discrepancies simply magnify the need for us to take this on faith. That is exactly what God has in mind.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator