Reflection for April 26 Saturday in the Octave of Easter: Mark 16:9-15

Gospel: 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.”

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Reflection:

Do you believe that Jesus has risen? 

Well and good if you do, for He has indeed risen and first appeared to Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene believed this too, for she saw Him personally and conversed with the Risen Lord. 

But when she told the disciples that Jesus had risen, they did not believe. Instead, they continued to mourn the death of Jesus. The disciples finally believed only when Jesus personally appeared before them. And right then, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith in His resurrection. 

Perhaps the guiding principle of those disciples was: “to see is to believe.” For they only believed in the resurrection when He personally appeared to them. Were they already lacking in faith when they did not believe what Mary Magdalene told them? Yes! Lack of faith was slowly but surely creeping into their hearts—until they saw Jesus in the flesh. 

The folly of not believing—or having little faith—is that we will not be blessed by Jesus if we don’t believe. We will not be healed by Jesus if we lack faith. 

Do you believe that Jesus has risen? — Marino J. Dasmarinas