Mark 16:13

(Chrysologus ubi sup.) There follows, And they went and told it unto the residue, neither believed they them. How are we to understand the words of Mark compared with the account of Luke, that they then said, The Lord hath risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon, (Luke 24:34) if we do not suppose that there were some there who would not believe?

(Hom. in Evan. xxix.) 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?

"And they went and told it unto the residue; neither believed they them." How then does Luke say that they "returned and found the eleven Apostles gathered together, and those who were with them, who said that the Lord is risen indeed" (Luke 24:33–34), whereas according to Mark's testimony they did not believe even those who came from the village? We answer: when the Evangelist says that "they told the residue," he does not mean the eleven apostles, but certain others. These he called "the residue," since the eleven had seen Him (Christ) on that same day on which those who returned from the village found them saying "that the Lord is risen indeed."

For he does not say this of the eleven, but of some others, whom He calls the residue.

But in a mystic sense we may understand that faith here labours, leading the active life, but there it reigns secure in the contemplative vision. Here we see His face through a glass, there we shall see the truth face to face, wherefore He was shown to them as they were walking, that is, labouring, in another form. And when it was told, the disciples did not believe, because they saw, like Moses, that which was not enough for them, for he said, show me thyself; (Exod. 33:18. Sept.) forgetting his flesh, he prays in this life for that which we hope for in the life to come.