A Reflection on Discipleship

In a powerful sermon on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, Fr. Robert illuminated the profound theological importance of the Myrrhbearers. The Church singles out these extraordinary women as the supreme disciples—those who remained when others fled, who ministered to Christ, and who became the first to proclaim the good news of His resurrection and were crucial to the early public ministry of the Church. They carried this message, “with fear and trembling,” yet ecstatic about the nature of their mission.

He challenged us to wrestle with the Word revealing the rich theological reflection on the difference between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John—particularly the unique placement of Mary and the beloved disciple John at the foot of the Cross, and posed the piercing question: If the Church claims to be faithful to the Word, can it remain silent in the face of suffering? Can it be a true exemplar of the Word while neglecting to speak on behalf of the weak, the helpless, the marginalized, and the poor? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves.