The first words in the great commissioning Jesus gave his disciples before departing for heaven are these:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (v 15). This Good News is that we are loved by God despite our sinfulness, that we are all called to be brothers and sisters on this beautiful planet, that life has therefore dignity and meaning, that death is only a passage into everlasting life.

If ever there is a good news, surely this one is! Are we aware of our wonderful mission? Are we eager to bring the Good News to a world which is famished for good news?

This does not mean that we have to start preaching on street corners. But it does mean that we have a duty to inform the world around us (and especially the lonely and the unhappy) that, since the coming of Jesus, everything has changed.

And this information, this Good News, will be credible when the world sees our smile, hears our laughter, feels our helping hands. The Good News is spread through our life of love; nothing more, nothing less.

Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.

Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.

So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, “What are we to do with these men?

Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.

But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”

So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.

“I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.” or “Alleluia.”

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.”