15 April, 2023 | Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Gospel Mk 16:9-15

 When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,

he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,

out of whom he had driven seven demons.

She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.

When they heard that he was alive

and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form

to two of them walking along on their way to the country.

They returned and told the others;

but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them

and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart

because they had not believed those

who saw him after he had been raised.

He said to them, "Go into the whole world

and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."

Reflection

The faithful women who came to anoint Christ’s body became the first to see the Risen Lord and proclaim the news of the Resurrection. Even though Christ had frequently told the disciples that He would be raised from the dead, they neither expected nor believed it to be possible. When Christ appeared to them personally, they finally believed and confirmed that the bodily Resurrection of Christ was a physical reality. Faith is a gift of God. Empowering their faith, Christ sent forth his disciples to go and preach the Gospel to the whole world. All believers have been given a share in this task- to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the world's only saviour. 

Activity: Believe and witness the Resurrection of our Lord in your imagination