Daily Catholic Lectio. Sat, 6 Apr 2024. They were with Jesus!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Sat, 6 Apr 2024

Saturday in the Easter Octave

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

They were with Jesus!

Mark’s description of post-resurrection events is gloomy. The disciples are not as excited here as they are in other gospels. They don’t run to see the empty tomb. They are not filled with joy. They are not excited. They are just as they were. ‘They did not believe what Mary Magdalene said;’ ‘nor did they mind what the two disciples (Emmaus!) said.’ Finally, Jesus had to appear to them and admonish them for their incredulity and hardness of heart. And Jesus commands them to go and announce to the entire creation the good news.

In the entire gospel of Mark, the disciples are portrayed as someone ‘not able to understand Jesus,’ ‘does not understand Jesus,’ or ‘misunderstands Jesus.’ We may take these disciples to be the metaphors of the early Church as well. The disciples in their evangelization ministry had to encounter hard-hearted and unbelieving people. They must go on preaching the good news.

Mark ends his gospel with the word ‘gospel’ as he begins with it. ‘Gospel’ is ‘the good news’: ‘the good news that is Jesus,’ ‘the good news that is about Jesus,’ and ‘the good news that Jesus proclaimed and acted.’

When can we confirm that we are the messengers of the good news?

It is when other people see us and say, ‘They were with Jesus.’

In the first reading, the interrogation of Peter and John by the Sanhedrin continues. The Sanhedrin realises that Peter is uneducated and ordinary; the Sanhedrin is astounded by his courage. It concludes, “They were with Jesus.”

The disciples, who were incredulous and sceptical, not only believed in Jesus but also proclaimed their belief with courage.

What is the lesson for us?

Anyone who encounters the Risen Lord becomes totally new and transformed. His old self disappears, and the new self is born. His words and deeds reveal his God experience. They enjoy total freedom. They become resilient, courageous, and perseverant. This is the experience of resurrection.

In the responsorial psalm (cf. 118), the Psalmist sings, “The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord has struck with power.”

Jesus appears to us when we are unbelieving and resisting. He admonishes us; he disappears from us, leaving us a command, ‘Get up, to the world.’ His presence is encouraging.

As Jesus was raised from the dead, we too rise from doubt, hesitation, and fear.

Peter, who was hesitant when the woman at the Sanhedrin said, “You were with Jesus,” now feels proud when the Sanhedrin realises that “he was with Jesus.” God transforms our hesitation into pride.

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Pet 1:3). (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 67)

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy