10 April 2021

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

The nature of the Gospel and of the Easter message is such that it must be proclaimed, regardless of the obstacles that we place in the way. In today’s Gospel reading from Mark (16:9-15), which is a kind of summary of some of the Lord’s Resurrection appearances, the Eleven—Jesus’ chosen apostles—are slow to accept the reality that Jesus is risen; they believe neither Mary Magdalene nor the two disciples who met Jesus on the way. However, this does not stop the Lord; rather, he appears to the Eleven himself and rebukes them, but then commissions them to “proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Even we as believing Christians can show hardness of heart, and we are sometimes slow to believe and accept what great things the Lord has accomplished. When this happens, the Lord may rebuke us as he did the Eleven, and then he will send us out to share the Good News.

In addition to the obstacles we ourselves place in the way of the Gospel, others who do not believe may create barriers. In the end, however, these external obstacles too will not prevent the Gospel’s spread. In the first reading from Acts (4:13-21), the apostles, who have clearly taken to heart Jesus’ commission, respond to the elders’ threats with an astounding statement: “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” This statement captures the nature of Easter joy; it is something which cannot simply be kept in, but by its very nature must be shared with others. Today, let us ask the grace to have hearts that are not hard, but filled with the joy that impels us to share the Good News.