Mark has Jesus appearing to his friends at table in Mark 16:9-15 and takes note of the fact that they were at first hesitant to believe that he had risen from the dead. Mark says that Jesus “took them to task for their disbelief and their stubbornness, since they had put no faith in those who had seen him after he had been raised.” Remember, all except for John, had fled into hiding and Peter had denied ever knowing him. They had practically given up on Jesus. His resurrection was now an occasion for Jesus to call them back to faithfulness — to call them back to life.
Acts 4:13-21, shows us just how very successful Jesus was. Peter and John answered the priests and elders with courage and honesty: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight for us to obey you rather than God. Surely we cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen.” There is no way under God’s heaven that they can keep quiet now. Just as Jesus aided them to make a huge catch; now he will fulfill his promise to make them fishers of men. He tells them to go out and to make disciples of the whole world.
We also need to be so enthusiastic with the message of Easter that we have to proclaim it to everyone we meet. Jesus is alive! And, what’s more, he wants all of us to have a share in his life. In a world steeped in sin, suffering, and death, this message is as vital today as ever before. In our prayer, our witness, and our proclamation we must bring this to people still blinded by the darkness of oppression and suffering. Just as the disciples were able to cure the lame man which incited an interrogation; we too can offer healing to others, if not always in body, then at least in spirit. We are the hands and feet and mouths of the risen Christ in the world — he lives in us!
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Filed under: Bible, Catholic, Discipleship, Easter, Faith, God, Jesus, Reflection |
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