The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to respond to the Spirit calling us to full life by sharing our resurrection experiences with others.
Foundation for Full Life
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles echoes how the People around Peter and John praise God.
* [4:1] The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees: the priests performed the temple liturgy; the temple guard was composed of Levites, whose captain ranked next after the high priest. The Sadducees, a party within Judaism at this time, rejected those doctrines, including bodily resurrection, which they believed alien to the ancient Mosaic religion. The Sadducees were drawn from priestly families and from the lay aristocracy.1
Psalm 118 is a Song of Victory.
* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).2
The text from the Gospel of Mark is the Ending of This Gospel.
* [16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20.3
Chas Kestermeier S.J asks “Do we believe in Christ at all, even if we don’t see him?”
Certainly somewhat, but do we also believe that he is alive now and still at work to offer healing, forgiveness, hope, and life to all who seek him? We find it hard – at least at times – to trust and to believe, but besides simply having faith we must also seek Jesus as he now is: he is completely changed in appearance and is alive in the beggar, the braggart, the person who follows a different political star than I do, and even in the members of our families. Do I find him there, love and serve him there, grow as I search for him, find him again, and then go on to find him in still other people and situations?4
Don Schwager quotes “The Great Commission,” by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.
"The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: "Behold I am with you even to the end of the world," yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths?" (excerpt from Letter 199, To Hesychius 49)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 118:1, 14-21 reminds us to thank God who will help us to share our faith when opportunities arise. Thank God for giving us the grace to love, to serve, and to persevere.
“Thank you, Lord, for welcoming me into your presence. Here with you, I find the grace to know and love and serve you more each day. Help me to recall your goodness and the many blessings for which I can thank you. Stir up gratitude in my heart, Lord. And may my thanksgiving produce the joy, faithfulness, and willingness to speak up, like Peter and John, about what I have seen and heard.” “I give you thanks, Lord, for you are my Savior. You have done great things for me.”6
Friar Jude Winkler remarks on the courage of the uneducated Peter and John when they are interrogated by the Sanhedrin. We share the gift of Love we experience in a non judgemental way. Friar Jude provides some background to the nature of the shorter ending to Mark’s Gospel and the role of Mary Magdalene as “Apostle to the apostles.”
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to meditate on New Life: “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” —John 10:10. Author and retreat leader Joyce Rupp guides us in a meditation on the liminal experience of standing on a threshold, held between death and new life.
Sit on a chair that is placed across a doorsill. Recall the formation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. First, see the caterpillar crawling along, munching leaves. Then, visualize this little creature creating the chrysalis in which it will hang. Imagine you are inside this quiet, dark space of metamorphosis. Let yourself sit quietly inside that threshold of change for as long as you can. You do not need to do anything but just “be there.” After some quiet time, picture a brilliant monarch butterfly coming forth from the chrysalis. Join in the wonder and freedom of its first flight. Close this reflection by turning your heart in trust toward the One who brings you fullness of life.
Rupp offers this prayer:
Gestating Spirit,
your gifts of transformation
await me on every threshold.
Your life-giving power raised Christ
from the bleak tomb. . . .
Raise what has died in me.
Refresh it with your touch of love.
I open the door of my heart to you. I open the door.7
As with Peter and John, we rely on courage from the Holy Spirit to transform the deaths in our life to experiences of hope and love.
References
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