23 April 2022
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.” (Ps 118:17)
It takes time for the shocking reality of the Resurrection to settle in. The apostles did not believe the first time they were told, or apparently even the second time they were told. That is when Jesus appeared to the Eleven, “and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.” (Mk 16:14) Jesus speaks up when we stubbornly refuse to hope. He points out that He has been sending messengers to us. And what does He do next? “He said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.’” (Mk 16:15) Jesus does not abandon the stubborn Eleven. He does not leave them with a rebuke and nothing else. The Risen Lord gives them the mission to proclaim the Gospel, the glad tidings of His Resurrection. Perhaps we will not be believed at first. Such is an opportunity for unity with Mary Magdalene and the two disciples who were not believed by the apostles themselves. Perhaps we are stubborn ourselves. Yet, Jesus is patient. He continues to send messengers and to come Himself. Our Risen Lord will not rest until we too come to know truly that with Christ we shall live, and we share that knowledge with the world.