"Of Divine Transformations"

Today's Mass Readings

Mark’s gospel, the shortest and the first to be written, describes all the resurrection appearances of Jesus in all but seven verses. Today's reading gives us these accounts. It is surprising that even after the resurrection, the disciples have to be rebuked by Jesus. In fact, througout Mark’s narration of the Jesus story, the disciples do come across as uncomprehending. Neither the words nor the miracles of Jesus do much for the disciples as God’s salvific work unfolds in their midst. Thus, in Mark 4:10, Jesus has to explain the parable of the sower especially to the disciples; He berates them after the calming of the sea for their unbelief (4:40); they cried out with fear when Jesus appeared walking on the water (6:49); Peter is scolded by Jesus when he tries to convince Jesus not accept his impending death (8:33). The self-serving disciples are caught arguing about who is the greatest (9:34), and the ambitious James and John vied to sit at Jesus’ right and left in his kingdom (10:37). In the gospel of Mark, not even John stood by Jesus during his trial, crucifixion and death. So we should not be surprised that today’s gospel reading too the disciples come out looking bad. Mark 16:14 says, …”he (Jesus) 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.”

Yet immediately after the rebuke, Jesus commissions the disciples with one of the most urgent yet complex task. He says to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature: (16:15).

In today’s first reading, the same uncomprehending, self-serving, ambitious, terrified, and unbelieving disciples stand before the threatening authorities and now confess: “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” (Acts 4:20). What a dramatic transformation.

I can fully identify with the pre-Pentecost disciples. I too am uncomprehending, self-serving, ambitious, terrified, and unbelieving like the disciples. Yet I must allow Jesus to reign in me. I must let the Spirit of God strengthen me. Jesus is alive and I must believe it with my heart and confess it with my lips (Romans 10:9). In this is salvation.

Let us end with the words of the Psalmist as he prays:
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. (Psalm 118).