Mark 16:9-15
“Go forth to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
Jesus, rising early on the first Sabbath, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and announced it to those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping.
And they, upon hearing that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, did not believe it.
But after these events, he was shown in another likeness to two of them walking, as they were going out to the countryside. And they, returning, reported it to the others; neither did they believe them.
Finally, he appeared to the eleven, as they sat at table. And he rebuked them for their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen that he had risen again. And he said to them: “Go forth to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
What do the Fathers say?
Pope St GREGORY the Great. Our Redeemer rising before the light, did not only come out free from hell, but destroyed also the very gates of hell.
St THEOPHYLACT. Mary had seven devils, because she was filled with all vices. Or else, by seven devils are meant seven spirits contrary to the seven virtues. A spirit without fear, without wisdom, without understanding, and whatsoever else is opposed to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
PSEUDO-JEROME. He is shown to her, out of whom He had cast seven devils, because harlots and publicans shall go before the synagogue into the kingdom of heaven, just as the repentant thief reached it before the Apostles.
The Apostles mourn and weep because they had not yet seen, but after a short time they shall receive a consolation. For blessed are they that weep now, for they shall be comforted.
The Venerable BEDE. Fitly too is this woman, who was the first to announce the joy of our Lord’s resurrection, said to have been cured of seven devils, lest any one worthily repenting of his sins should despair of pardon for what he had done, and that it might be shown that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. (Rom. 5:20)
Pope St GREGORY the Great. That the disciples were slow in believing our Lord’s resurrection was not so much a weakness of theirs as it is our strength. For the resurrection itself through their doubts was manifested by many proofs; and whilst we read and acknowledge them, what do we but become firmer through their doubting?
Severianus of Gabala. Christ’s face is changed by His resurrection, when of mortal it becomes immortal, this means that He gained a glorious countenance, not that He lost the substance of His countenance.
In other words: Through the Resurrection, Christ’s face underwent a profound transformation—shifting from a state of mortality to immortality. This does not mean His physical features were destroyed or replaced by a different person’s face; rather, His existing countenance was “clothed” in glory. He did not lose the reality of His human appearance; instead, He elevated it to a glorious state that the mortal eye could not always immediately perceive.