(Note: Due to a lack of technological finesse, I was not able to post a slice of Bread yesterday. Instruction from a young knowledgeable young man has helped me get back on track.)
Mark 16: 9-15
Go Preach the Gospel
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
The more we read these accounts of the Resurrection, the more we see how difficult it was for the followers of Jesus to accept it. We are so accustomed to hearing about it that its impact is partially lost. We get some flavor of how astounding it was for the first hearers. An event that was not part of human experience. Yet, Jesus doesn't dismiss his "chosen ones" because of their difficulty in coming to believe, but with his usual patience, accepts them where they are, giving them more than a nudge, while they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. A lesson for us as we sometimes want to kick ourselves for our lack of belief or are impatience with others because of theirs. And, above all, our mission, despite our weak or wavering faith is to preach the Gospel. May we learn to focus our attention on that call rather than on the many paralyzing questions that can prevent us from accomplishing it.
Bro. Rene
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