What if
it IS True? Blog
Discovering,
wrestling with, and trying like crazy to live Gospel virtue.
04/26/14
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.”
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.”
Here
we see three accounts of the risen Lord evidenced in the stories
we've seen in other Gospels so far in the Easter Octave. Obviously,
Mark in his economy of recounting, sums it all up in a single
command, “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every
creature”. It doesn't get any clearer than this. This is the Old
Evangelization and the New Evangelization. It's what we're called to
do but the one thing most of us, if were honest, have to admit is our
biggest weakness. Going next door to proclaim the Gospel is hard
enough, much less the whole world.
One
thing should give is some comfort and that's that even the disciples
got it wrong at first. They were cowering in fear, locked behind
closed doors. Not exactly the best way to make a positive impression.
And while this may be of comfort it's not meant to be imitated. Jesus
wants us to fearlessly proclaim the good news. And what is that good
news? It has to be our good news. Let me explain.
The
news that Christ is alive to people who don't care is not good. If I
don't know and don't care, which seems to encompass about 90% of our
culture today, a risen Christ means even less to me. What is that? A
folklore or fairytale? I don't care. Here's the tough stuff, you
care. Don't wait form them. We have to be the ones to do the caring.
And, we have to find ways to meet those tho are far from Christ where
they are. If we go to their level we have a chance to bring them
along with our Good News. Each of us as believers has it. Now the
only question is will we take it out to the whole world?
Good
luck and God bless,
Leo
Brown
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