The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, Saturday in the Octave of Easter, resonate with the experience we may have had when the intent of our actions have been misunderstood and we have had to proceed in spite of our being misunderstood.
In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and John are questioned before the Sanhedrin.
* [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.
* [4:11] Early Christianity applied this citation from Ps 118:22 to Jesus; cf. Mk 12:10; 1 Pt 2:7. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 118 recounts God’s rescue.
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). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark presents a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus.
* [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. (Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
Michele Bogard shares that faith defies logic. It is a conversation she has many times nowadays when people ask “How I can still be Catholic in today’s day and age.” And despite all the madness across the lands, she shares that faith defies logic.
Mary Magdalene’s faith defied logic. Jesus appeared to a woman first post-resurrection. …
Her faith defied logic and the law. Her faith and story of repentance cast her into a role that made her the perfect “apostle to the apostles,” as some say. Humility trumps position, wealth, and power.
Today I celebrate the Resurrection story. I also celebrate Mary Magdalene’s faith and courage to proclaim what she saw and witnessed. I celebrate that God dignified women in this pivotal moment in our collective faith story. (Bogard, n.d.)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 16:9-15 comments that even though they doubted and didn’t believe those Easter eyewitnesses, Jesus still didn’t give up on the Eleven who were very close to Jesus during his three years of ministry.
Jesus hasn’t given up on you, either. Maybe you serve in a ministry in your church. Maybe you’ve been a faithful Catholic all your life. Maybe you’ve participated in numerous Bible studies. But you still might let doubt or unbelief get the better of you at times. Even then, Jesus still tells you, Go, proclaim the gospel.
If you’ve found yourself less excited about sharing the good news than you once were, remember the Eleven. You are not disqualified by your lack of confidence or zeal. Keep sharing the gospel, keep sharing your testimony of what God has done in your life, and keep shining the light of Christ through your joy, your kindness, and your good deeds.
“Jesus, thank you for calling me to share your good news. Help me to shine for you today.” (Meditation on Mark 16:9-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts, the Sanhedrin have called in Peter and John after the kerygma and first healing. They are very cheeky and challenge the judges to determine if they should obey God or the authorities. The Longer Ending to the Gospel of Mark, after verse 8, needed some additions to improve the ending. Friar Jude notes that a scribe likely has added material from other Gospels: from John for the encounter with Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus from Luke and commissioning of the Apostles from Matthew.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces peace activist Father John Dear who finds encouragement for living a nonviolent life in Jesus’s words to his disciples after his resurrection.
When he rose from the dead and appeared to his awe-struck disciples on that Easter Sunday night, [Jesus] told them repeatedly, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his wounds, and repeated his greeting, “Peace be with you.” In that resurrection moment, he offered a peace that is not of this world. It is the peace that comes about through total surrender, nonviolence, non-retaliation, and unconditional, universal love. If, like the nonviolent Jesus, we choose not to respond to violence with further violence, if we dare respond with love, surrender ourselves to God, and practice creative nonviolence, then, come what may, we will know a new kind of peace.
…
If we dare surrender to the God of Universal Love and Peace right now, then we can go forth into the world of violence and war, without fear, worry, anxiety, or anger, and be transforming agents of loving nonviolence like Gandhi and Dr. King, and know, with the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich, that “all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.” (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek reassurance from the Spirit that “all will be well” as we act in response to our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in our environment.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?13
Bogard, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-11-2026
Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16?9
Meditation on Mark 16:9-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/11/1541283/
Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Easter Story: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-easter-story-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Go and Preach the Gospel to the Whole Creation. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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