REFLECTIONS TODAY

At the end of Mark’s Gospel, there seems to be a lingering ambivalence regarding the resurrection of Jesus. The faith of the early Christian community must pass through stages of faith development, from “unbelief and hardness of heart” (v 14) to belief in the risen Lord. Their initial incredulity to the testimony of a woman (Mary Magdalene) (v 11), the account of the two on the road to Emmaus (v 13), and the appearances to the Eleven (v 14) must give way to a crescendo of faith that culminates with Thomas’ confession: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28). The resurrection is the fulcrum of the Gospel. St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith” (1 Cor 15:14). 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.”’ *Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).*