Saturday in the Octave of Easter

“The Risen Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene”
by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1638

Readings for Saturday in the Octave of Easter [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary:[3]
 
Reading 1: Acts 4:13-21
 
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.
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Commentary on Acts 4:13-21
 
This is the conclusion of the story of the healing of the lame beggar at the “Beautiful Gate." The Sanhedrin has a problem. Too many people saw the miracle done in Jesus’ name. They attempt damage control by threatening Peter and John. This does not work and we hear the final word of their kerygmatic discourse as they proclaim the Risen Christ once more. The reason the Sanhedrin could not punish them further is significant: the event had been attributed by the people to God’s mercy not to the disciples themselves.
 
CCC: Acts 4:20 425; Acts 4:21 2640
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
 
R. (21a) I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
"The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power."
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
 
Psalm 118 is the great litany of thanksgiving. In this selection, it leads nicely into Mark 16:9-15 with: “I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior.” (v. 21) David gives thanks for the salvation that comes from the Lord.  Faith in God has led him from death to life.  The Lord is the “gate of justice” and he opens the way to eternal life.
 
CCC: Ps 118:14 1808
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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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Commentary on Mk 16:9-15
 
This Gospel selection is called “The Longer Ending” or “The Canonical Ending” of St. Mark’s Gospel. It captures pieces of the story we have from the narratives of the resurrection found in the Gospels of St. Luke (Luke 24:10ff) and St. John (John 20:11ff). The emotion expressed is one of fear and determination, rather than joy and confidence found in later writings. This earliest of the Gospel accounts provides a very human account of Jesus’ friends immediately following his death and before their recognition of his risen victory.
 
CCC: Mk 16:11 643; Mk 16:12 645, 659; Mk 16:13 643; Mk 16:14 643; Mk 16:15-16 977, 1223; Mk 16:15 888
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Reflection:
 
As we listen to the condensed story of the discovery of the resurrection from St. Mark’s Gospel, we are reminded that the disciples did not come to understand immediately what had taken place.  They rejected the story told by Mary Magdalene, and even by the two disciples who had been traveling to Emmaus.  It was not until the risen Lord had come and stood in their midst that they believed that Jesus was not dead, but alive, risen as he had told them.
 
We celebrate the joy of Easter already having come to faith and understanding of the resurrection.  We have, almost from our birth in many cases, been told the story of the resurrection of Jesus and had it explained.  If we have accepted the reality of the empty tomb solely on faith we are blessed indeed. St. Thomas was not that fortunate.  If we have struggled with the apparent contradiction of the events, with the physical reality of life and death as we know it, and come at last to belief that it was possible for God and explainable by human logic, then we too are blessed.
 
If you are one of the many who have doubts, consider this: for two thousand years this story has been told and reenacted countless times.  It has been challenged and suppressed; it has been denied, and those who continued to tell the story have been persecuted and killed.  Some of the most brilliant minds in human history have embraced the story as true and offered their lives in its defense.  If you cannot find it in your heart to accept that Jesus, who was a man, born of a woman, but in essence was the Only Son of God who was crucified, died, and rose from the dead, then accept that others of greater intellect have done the heavy lifting for you, and accept this truth as an unknowable fact.
 
But once you have accepted this truth, seek with your heart for the faith that brings complete belief.  Pray for it! The enemies of the Cross are many; they are tireless in their attempts to deny the empty tomb, and they are persuasive and powerful.  Our defense is that the call he left the disciples still echoes in the world: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature."  We, who accept this call, work to create a world based upon the great truth of our Lord and Savior.
 
Pax

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[1] The picture used is “The Risen Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene” by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1638.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.