REFLECTIONS TODAY
The original version of the Gospel of Mark ends in verse 8 of chapter 16, with the women still cowering in fear and overcome with bewilderment. Thus, they are unable to obey the command of the angel to convey to the apostles that Jesus will meet with them in Galilee. The Gospel reading today is called the Longer Ending, composed and added later. Here, the editor summarizes the stories of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and to two disciples on their way to the country, akin to Luke’s story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. The ending is some sort of chiaroscuro, where there is interplay of light and shadows. The resurrection did not totally dispel the unbelief and hardness of heart on the part of the followers of Jesus. Still, this does not prevent them from being empowered by Jesus and from being sent to the whole world to preach the Gospel. In the evangelization of peoples, both human frailty and divine power are at play. Trusting in God, the ministers of the Word persevere in announcing the Good News of salvation to all peoples.
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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