Today's Season of Joy reflection on Mark 16, 9-15 is by Sr. Francis Maag.
Sister Francis took her vows with the Congregation of Divine Providence 68 years ago. Over her career she served as principal with seven different schools, in four different states and five different dioceses. She remains an active participant of Divine Mercy parish in Bellevue, KY.
from 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.
To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041523.cfm
"Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."
This is the call to everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus. This call to proclaim the gospel is the universal mission of every Christian. It is to proclaim Jesus. It is to share his teachings, and example of living his divine truths about life.
How can one carry out this mission unless one knows the gospel? How can a person know the gospel if there's no one to teach it? How can one share the truth of Jesus and the gospel if one is not sent?
To proclaim Jesus one must not just know about Jesus, one must know Jesus—have an experience of Jesus—and become a true believer. A true believer will be motivated to share the good news of the gospel with enthusiasm. All true believers are sent by Jesus himself to share the gospel with every creature.
Excuses abound. I am too young; too old; too uneducated; too busy; too...
It is well to note that Peter and John—Jesus's close Apostles—were considered uneducated by the people of their time. Yet they were recognized as companions of Jesus. They knew Jesus. They had experienced Jesus.
The Jewish leaders had seen the man who was cured by Peter's intercession. Nevertheless, these leaders ordered Peter and John not ever again to speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles retorted: "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
To enthusiastically proclaim the gospel. One must have a personal experience of Jesus and truly know him and his message. Become a true believer. One cannot pass on to another what one does not have in their own heart and soul.
When Mary Magdalene excitedly reported that Jesus was risen and alive, the apostles didn't believe her. When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem with joy, to tell the apostles they had seen Jesus, they weren't believed.
Eventually the apostles too experience the Risen Jesus and initiated the church. To proclaim this good news—the news of salvation and restoration of our relationship with God, through Jesus—we need courage and commitment.
Let us enthusiastically respond to the beautiful and challenging call. Let us, in the words of Saint Paul, "Be ambassadors for Christ. Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."
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