What We Have Seen and Heard

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15

Scripture scholars debate whether today’s gospel reading was part of the original Gospel of Mark or was added later. The author gives us a deeper sense of how difficult it was for the disciples to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Both Mary Magdalene and those disciples witnessed that Jesus was alive. They had all seen and heard him. But when they told the others what they had seen and heard, they refused to believe.

But then Jesus appeared to the Eleven, and Mark tells us that “he rebuked them for their stubbornness and hardness of heart.” Mark uses those words intentionally. They were the same words that were used to describe the people of Israel in the Old Testament when they refused to follow God and the testimony of Moses and the prophets.  

But Jesus did not give up on his disciples. He still sent them out to proclaim the gospel.  

This is a time when hearts can be hardened. Within a matter of weeks, our nation has been shocked and humbled by a virus. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Our freedom of movement is restricted. We are told to wear masks. We must wait in line outside stores. Our children are at home when they need to be in school. Many people are sick from COVID-19.More than 1000 people here in Illinois have died. It can be difficult to believe in resurrection.  

Jesus dares us to believe. He asks us to look in our hearts and at our lives. He asks us to think of the many times we have experienced him in his word, in the sacraments, in our families, friends, neighbors and experiences. We can see him in the doctors, nurses and others who minister to the sick. We see him in the people who continue to work in the “essential businesses” so that we can remain safe at home. We see him in the people making masks for others.  

Yes, our lives are more difficult today than they were two months ago. But God is still God. We are here. Jesus is with us. The Holy Spirit is in us. Even these difficult times, especially in these difficult times, we are called to follow the example of St. Peter and St. John and to testify about what we have seen and heard.” 

 - Capuchin Friar John Celichowski