Reflection for Saturday, April 18, 2020
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.”
Counting our gains in this time of loss
by Rita Zyber
“What’s a guy gotta do to get people to believe?” I can almost hear Jesus asking this question as I look at the Gospel readings from the past few days. Coming straight from the tomb that couldn’t hold him, Jesus appears several times to console his grieving friends. Finally, he goes so far as to walk through locked doors and let people poke him in the side.
With great patience and love, Jesus wants to assure them (and us) that he has fulfilled all of God’s promises for our salvation. I picture him saying, “I did my part, out of great love for you. Now be filled with my Spirit, so that you can go out and spill it around the world.”
Perhaps he doesn’t look quite the same in this new and glorious form. Perhaps it’s extreme fear that causes his friends to doubt. In today’s Gospel, Mark calls it “hardness of heart” that blocks their belief.
Lately, I think I’ve had a little hardness of the heart, too. Fear, anger, grief, and a lack of purpose can keep me from remembering that we are truly an “Easter people.” Sometimes I wake up in the morning and have to force myself to feel grateful for another isolated day.
But when I do make an effort – when I pay attention to where God is throughout my day – it’s easier to see that the Resurrection is always with us, and in us.
I see the Spirit in my husband, as he plays Banana Grams with me to cheer me up, even though he hates that game. I hear accounts from how hard it is in “the field.” My friend is a grocery worker, and my niece is a nursing assistant. Last week she witnessed the deaths of four patients in one day. She had to hold up an iPad for one of these patients so a relative could say goodbye. They are doing their jobs with love, and with a clear trust in the Resurrection.
This Easter has indeed been tough, but so meaningful. It was heartbreaking last Saturday to watch the Easter Vigil on my computer, without the joy of welcoming our newest members into the Church. These 12 wonderful people have prepared all year through RCIA, and they are patiently waiting – “in joyful hope.” They already know that they are an Easter people.
This week, I want to think about what I’ve gained during this time of loss. There’s a lot to notice, including cleaner air, more time to read and pray, more time with my husband, greater appreciation for essential workers. But I want to focus on this – the Resurrection is truly present with us now. Our God goes to great lengths to reach us because God wants us to believe. Our God, who conquers even death, will conquer the fear and the sadness, and even the hardness of our hearts.