Saturday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 266
Reading
Observing the boldness of Peter and John
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
“What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living inJerusalem
knows that a remarkable sign
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.
and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed,
and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them,
they could say nothing in reply.
So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin,
and conferred with one another, saying,
“What are we to do with these men?
Everyone living in
was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people,
let us give them a stern warning
never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back
and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply,
“Whether it is right in the sight of God
for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further,
they released them,
finding no way to punish them,
on account of the people who were all praising God
for what had happened.
Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have
answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.”
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.”
Meditation:
"Go and preach the gospel to the whole creation"
Do you believe the Lord Jesus is truly alive and ready to make his presence
known to everyone who believes in him? The first to see the risen Lord
was not Peter or one of the apostles, but a woman noted for her demonized
living! She had been forgiven much, and loved her Master greatly. She was first
at the tomb to pay her respects. Unfortunately for the disciples, they would
not believe her account of the Risen Master. Jesus had to scold his apostles
because of their unbelief and stubborn hearts. Are you like the apostles or
like Mary – slow to believe or quick to run to Jesus? Do you doubt because you
do not see? The Lord makes his presence known to us through the work of the
Holy Spirit. He gives us the gift of faith to know him personally and to
understand the mystery of his death and rising. Do you believe his word and do
you listen to his voice? After his appearance to his beloved apostles, Jesus commissions them to go and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Their task is to proclaim the good news of salvation, not only to the people of
"Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith and hope in the power of your resurrection. And give me joy and courage to be your witness to others and to boldly speak of what you have done to save us from sin and death."
 The World Awaits Our Witness |
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Saturday in the Octave of Easter
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Mark 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.” Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are the source of all life because you are life itself. Your resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from the dead to rejoice with you in heaven forever. I need to dwell more often on the good you have done for us and on your promises to those who put their trust in you. Thank you, Jesus for taking up your life again and leading the way home to heaven. I love you, and I want to follow after you with all my heart. I want to cooperate more fully with you in bringing many others to heaven with me. Petition: Lord, grant me the grace of a profound apostolic zeal. 1A Saint Who Is Sad Is a Sad Saint: “When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” From these lines of scripture we can see the power our emotions can exercise over our faith. Melancholy can affect our trust. Perhaps we have been hurt by others and our sorrows are as real as those of the disciples. But let us not get accustomed to our tears; rather, with the courage and help of Our Lord, let us put aside past resentments and pain. After all, if his love is enough to convert our hearts, what grounds do we have to think that it is not powerful enough to convert the hearts and lives of those who hurt us? Humanity will not be converted by the distressed. We should be willing to give the world a joyful witness to the Resurrection, for the source of our joy is in the Lord, not in the hands of our adversaries. 2. Rebuked for Unbelief and Hardness of Heart: We may be a bit scandalized at Our Lord’s apparent lack of understanding and sympathy towards his disciples who were mourning his tragic loss. Sometimes though, a good shaking-up is required to slough off a melancholic spirit and to switch us from an inordinate self-love and self-pity to a concern for others. In moments when we begin to despair and feel suffocated by our sufferings, St. Paul reminds us to have hope: “I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38). We must never allow anything to rob us of our trust in Christ. He is faithful to his promises. 3. We Are to Be Witnesses to His Love: Despite their unbelief, Our Lord did not retract his gift of redemption or lessen our responsibility for the mission. “It is not to a dull everyday routine that we return.… We need to imitate the zeal of the Apostle Paul: ‘Straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)’”(John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, 59). Our encounter of faith with the Risen Lord cannot be kept solely for the private sphere of our life. Rather, it needs to draw us to be zealous in proclaiming him to others. The sense of Christ’s command—“Go into the whole world”—is to proclaim him to as many others as possible. Conversation with Christ: >Lord, I have taken away from this meditation the lesson that it is time for me to wake from my slumber to fulfill your words. I must “go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Help me to realize that my past sinfulness and disbelief do not excuse me from this mission. Resolution:The next time I find a person struggling or in turmoil, I will offer to pray with them—or at least for them if they decline. |
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
SOLEMNITY OF EASTER SATURDAY
MARK 16:9-15
(Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118)
KEY VERSE: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (v 15).
REFLECTING: Have I the courage to share the good news with those who do not believe?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, help me to recognize your presence in my daily life.
I
praise you, Lord, for you have answered me
Peter and John had spoken strongly, and the Council was astonished, considering that they were uneducated laymen. However, when they saw the evidence of the power of Jesus’ resurrection, they had to acknowledge that these men were speaking the truth.
We often see the person who is educated and confident as the person who is right. This is not always a correct assumption. Sometimes the person with less education has more wisdom and understanding. I remember a person who filled this description. She was much maligned in the local community but has been for me a good example of the stone that was rejected. Lord, help me to see each person as you do, disregarding worldly appraisal.
April 6
St. Crescentia Hoess
(1682-1744)
St. Crescentia Hoess
(1682-1744)
Crescentia was born in 1682 in a
little town near Augsburg
As she grew older she desired to enter the convent of the Tertiaries of St.
Francis. But the convent was poor and, because Crescentia had no dowry, the
superiors refused her admission. Her case was then pleaded by the Protestant
mayor of the town to whom the convent owed a favor. The community felt it was
forced into receiving her, and her new life was made miserable. She was
considered a burden and assigned nothing other than menial tasks. Even her
cheerful spirit was misinterpreted as flattery or hypocrisy. Conditions improved four years later when a new superior was elected who realized her virtue. Crescentia herself was appointed mistress of novices. She so won the love and respect of the sisters that, upon the death of the superior, Crescentia herself was unanimously elected to that position. Under her the financial state of the convent improved and her reputation in spiritual matters spread. She was soon being consulted by princes and princesses as well as by bishops and cardinals seeking her advice. And yet, a true daughter of Francis, she remained ever humble.
Bodily afflictions and pain were always with her. First it was headaches and toothaches. Then she lost the ability to walk, her hands and feet gradually becoming so crippled that her body curled up into a fetal position. In the spirit of Francis she cried out, "Oh, you bodily members, praise God that he has given you the capacity to suffer." Despite her sufferings she was filled with peace and joy as she died on Easter Sunday in 1744.
She was beatified in 1900 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Comment:
Although she grew up in poverty and willingly embraced it in her vocation, Crescentia had a good head for business. Under her able administration, her convent regained financial stability. Too often we think of good money management as, at best, a less-than-holy gift. But Crescentia was wise enough to balance her worldly skills with such acumen in spiritual matters that heads of State and Church both sought her advice.
Although she grew up in poverty and willingly embraced it in her vocation, Crescentia had a good head for business. Under her able administration, her convent regained financial stability. Too often we think of good money management as, at best, a less-than-holy gift. But Crescentia was wise enough to balance her worldly skills with such acumen in spiritual matters that heads of State and Church both sought her advice.
Lectio: Mark 16,9-15
Lectio:
Saturday,
April 6, 2013
Easter
Time
1) Opening prayer
Our
God and Father,
your
Son Jesus lived among us,
flesh
of our flesh, blood of our blood.He died for our sake
and
you raised him back to life.
May
we experience his love and his presence
to
such an extent
that
we can never stop proclaiming
what
we have seen and heard,
and
that people may give glory to you, our God.
We
ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
2) Gospel Reading
Having
risen in the morning on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of
Magdala from whom he had cast out seven devils. She then went to those who had
been his companions, and who were mourning and in tears, and told them. But
they did not believe her when they heard her say that he was alive and that she
had seen him.
After
this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their
way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe
them either.
Lastly,
he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He
reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused
to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, 'Go
out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.
3) Reflection
•
Today’s Gospel forms part of a broader literary unit (Mk 16, 9-20) which places
us before a list or summary of diverse apparitions of Jesus: (a) Jesus appears
to Mary Magdalene, but the disciples do not accept her testimony (Mk 16, 9-11);
(b) Jesus appears to the disciples, but the others do not accept their
testimony (Mk 16, 12-13); (c) Jesus appears to the eleven, he criticizes their
lack of faith and orders them to announce the Good News to all (Mk 16, 14-18);
(d) Jesus ascends to Heaven and continues to cooperate with the disciples (Mk
16, 19-20).
•
Besides this list of apparitions in the Gospel of Mark, there are other lists
of apparitions which do not always coincide among themselves. For example, the
list kept by Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians is very different (1 Co 15,
3-8). This variety shows that at the beginning the Christians were not
concerned to prove the Resurrection by means of the apparitions. For them faith
in the Resurrection was so evident and alive that there was no need to prove
it. A person who takes sun on the shore is not concerned in showing that the
sun exists, because she herself, sun burnt, is the evident proof of the
existence of the sun. The communities, existing in the midst of the immense
Empire, were a living proof of the Resurrection. The list of the apparitions
began to appear later, in the second generation in order to refute the
criticism of the enemies.
•
Mark 16, 9-11: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, but the other disciples do not
believe her. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene. She goes to announce this
to the others. To come into the world, God wanted to depend on the womb of a
young girl 15 or 16 years old, called Mary of Nazareth (Lk 1, 38). To be
recognized alive in our midst, he wants to depend on the announcement of a
woman who had been liberated from seven devils, also called Mary, of Magdala!
(This is why she was called Mary Magdalene). But the others did not believe
her. Mark says that Jesus appeared first to Magdalene. In the list of
apparitions, transmitted in the letter to the Corinthians (1 Co 15, 3-8), the
apparitions of Jesus to the women are not mentioned. The first Christians had
difficulty to believe in the testimony of women. It is a sin!
•
Mark 16, 12-13: Jesus appears to the disciples, but the others do not believe
them. Without too many details, Mark refers to an apparition of Jesus to two
disciples, “while they were on their way into the country”. This is perhaps a
summary of the apparition of Jesus to the disciples of Emmaus, narrated by Luke
(Lk 24, 13-35). Mark insists in saying that “the others did not believe them
either”.
•
Mark 16, 14-15: Jesus criticizes the unbelief and orders them to announce the
Good News to all creatures. For this reason, Jesus appears to the Eleven and
reproaches them because they had not believed the persons who had seen him
resurrected. Once again, Mark refers to the resistance of the disciples in
believing to believe the testimony of those who have experienced the
Resurrection of Jesus. Why? Probably to teach three things. In the first place
that faith in Jesus passes through the faith in the persons who give witness.
In the second place, that nobody should be discouraged, when the doubt or the
unbelief arises in the heart. In the third place, in order to refute the
criticism of those who said that the Christian is naïve and accepts without
criticism any news, because the Eleven had great difficulty to accept the truth
of the Resurrection!
•
Today’s Gospel ends with the sending out: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim
the Gospel to all creation!” Jesus confers to them the mission to announce the
Good News to all creatures.
4) Personal questions
•
Mary Magdalene, the two disciples of Emmaus and the eleven disciples: who had
the greatest difficulty to believe in the Resurrection? Why? With whom do I
identify myself?
•
Which are the signs which can convince persons of the presence of Jesus in our
midst?
5) Concluding Prayer
May
God show kindness and bless us,
and
make his face shine on us.
Then
the earth will acknowledge your ways,
and
all nations your power to save. (Ps 671-2)
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