ACC ~ Mark 16 v5c

THE WORD OF ETERNAL LIFE

GREGORY THE GREAT: And let us also take note of what it means that the angel is seen sitting on the right side. For what does the left side mean but this present life; and the right hand side, if not life eternal? … And so, since our redeemer has now passed over beyond the mortality of this present life, rightly does the angel, who had come to announce his entry into eternal life, sit at the right side. And he came clothed in white: for he was announcing the joy of this our present solemnity. HOMILIES 21. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 1711, 2.21.2.16; SSGF 2:242.

ANGELIC POSTURES PREFIGURED HIS PRIESTLY AND REGAL OFFICE

BEDE: It was fitting that the herald of his resurrection is reported to have been sitting, [1] so that by sitting he might prefigure him who, having triumphed over the author of death, would ascend to his seat in his everlasting kingdom. … Sitting on a throne is the act of a king, and standing at a place of sacrifice is that of a high priest. Because our redeemer deigned to become for us at the same time both a king and a priest—a priest to cleanse us thoroughly from our sins by being a sacrificial offering in his passion, a king to bestow on us an everlasting kingdom. The angels who proclaim his resurrection appeared while sitting in order to signify that he had gone to seek his seat [2] in the heavenly kingdom after having overcome death. They appeared also standing [3] to show that he also intercedes for us in the mysteries of his Father as a high priest. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 2.7, 10. [4]

[1] Cf. Mt 28:2; Mk 16:5. The issue is why Mark reports the young man as sitting while in Luke two men are standing.

[2] Cf. Mk 16:5.

[3] Lk 24:4: “two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”

[4] Cetedoc 1367, 2.7.100; 2.10.116; HOG 2:62, 92. Since our Redeemer was both priest and king, the angels who proclaimed his resurrection appeared in the posture of both priest (standing, as in Luke) and king (sitting, as in Mark). “Standing is appropriate to one fighting, sitting to one ruling. It was fitting that the angel who proclaimed the coming of our Lord into the world appeared standing, that by his standing [position] he might express the fact that the one he was proclaiming was coming to do battle with the prince of this world,” HOG 2:62.