Lk 24:1-12 (cont.)
Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (10-11)
The disciples, of course, disregard the women's account, even though there is a group of them. Perhaps they attribute it to a mass hallucination? This seems indicative of the historical disregard of women by men.
(I once had a good friend who swore she'd had an encounter with a poltergeist. I was similarly dismissive, though not aloud. The thing is, I was very supportive of her spiritual gifts; she had a supernatural gift for knowing current and future events that were not the result of mere insight. Perhaps this experience she'd had was another manifestation of spiritual knowledge and I should have given her more credit.
Part of it, I suppose, is that I don't believe in ghosts, in the traditional sense. I believe in spiritual beings, but not in ghosts. I find plenty of biblical evidence for spiritual influences, but none for the dead remaining present in this world after they pass on. But perhaps this was then a spiritual being, a demon, who was able to manifest spiritually for some reason?)
Jesus was remarkable for removing women from the sidelines, even if he didn't name any of them as apostles. When Jewish society cast them out and heaped ignominy upon them - especially in situations in which men were equally culpable - he sought to reconcile and affirm them.
In the verse omitted from this online version of the RSV, Peter heeds the news and makes haste to the tomb, which he leaves in wonder after seeing the linen cloths there by themselves.
St. Luke does not have the apostles directed by the angel to return to Galilee.
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