Easter has come! Jesus is risen! In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 16:9‑15), Mary Magdalene excitedly brings the news that she has seen Jesus, but no one will share in her excitement. No one believes her. How disappointing that must have been to have such good news and not be believed. Then Cleopas and the other disciple saw Him, and no one believed them either. It is not until the eleven see Him for themselves that they finally believe. After all the time that they had with Jesus, after seeing all the things that He did, after hearing what He had taught, why didn’t they believe? They had literally walked and talked with him for three years. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have that opportunity to be one of His closest companions? He told them that He would return, what was not to believe?
Ahh! But how am I different? Am I the ever faithful and trusting follower of Christ? I have been blessed with a lifetime of His presence, but do I always believe? Probably not! Is my unfaithfulness because I was not there in the time of Christ to see and hear Him? Is it because I was baptized as an infant and grew up with the faith that seems to be “old hat” at times?
I think it is because I am a human, and we all have “feet of clay.” I want to truly sense and believe in His presence with all my heart and soul. I want that belief to be expressed in how I view and live with others and the world around me. I want that attitude to give me the courage to share with others, in word and deed, what I have seen and what I have heard. I want to be like the newly baptized this Easter, engulfed in a fresh and vital relationship with God.
All of my desires can be realized. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist we have the opportunity to renew our Baptism, to make our faith fresh and vital. We are as fortunate as the disciples; Christ is with us always. May we be ever aware of that presence. As in today’s first reading (Acts 4:13‑21) may we be able to say, “It is impossible for us NOT to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!