Seeing Is Not Always Believing

 

Mark 16: 9-15

 Our Mission

⁹ 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.

People do not usually rise from the dead, so the refusal to believe that Jesus did is somewhat understandable, but after witnessing the miracles that Jesus worked, including the raising of the widow of Naim's son and Lazarus, we'd think that the apostles could accept the risen Jesus with any doubt. They did, eventually, but it was a slow process. We don't have to look too far to find disbelieving companions, with ourselves as prime examples. How fragile and vulnerable is our faith, especially in these troubled times; how we doubt, even though God has reassured us time and time again. Let us daily ask for a stalwart faith that enables us to believe when we see and when we don't.

Bro. Rene

God of all wisdom and grace, you fill us with unwavering zeal to proclaim the truth of our faith wherever your Spirit leads us. Give us courage and determination to live out our faith even amid this harsh and challenging world. May our lives reflect your radiance as you lead us into your promise of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Rev. Brad Metz, C.S.C.