A “Joyful Shout”

Today's Mass Readings

"A Joyful Shout." These words from today’s Psalm (Ps 118:15) illustrate the insuppressible good news of Jesus’ life death and resurrection. The good news of the resurrection bubbles forth from Jesus’ disciples out of their gut, almost uncontrollably; it is unable to be squelched or held down. In the reading from Mark’s gospel today, Mary Magdalene is the first witness to the resurrected Jesus (Mark 16:9). In John’s endearing account of this same appearance, we are told that Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at first, but mistook him for the gardener (John 20:15) – something is different here. In Mark’s account, we learn nothing of the exchange between Mary and Jesus, only that after He appeared to her, “she went out and told his companions” (Mark 16:10), who summarily dismiss her story. It is interesting that Mark only tells us of these two verbs “he appeared” and “she told.” Mary is not even commanded by Jesus to tell the others, but it seems she cannot contain herself. She cannot hold in this joyful news.

At the end of the gospel passage, Jesus appears to the Eleven, too, and they finally believe.
We have been hearing the story of two of these Eleven – Peter and John – who have been captured for “teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 4:2). Today’s first reading opens with the amazement of the boldness of Peter and John for preaching and teaching the good news. When the Sanhedrin commands them to no longer teach in Jesus’ name, Peter and John can only reply, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). This is interesting because it has nothing to do with what they choose to do. They have been consumed by the Holy Spirit; they cannot do otherwise. They have been given over to God; the good news bursts forth from their gut.

We, too, have heard the good news of the resurrection. We have seen it come to life in the liturgical celebration of the Triduum. We, too, have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit in our Baptism and Confirmation. On this final day of the octave of Easter, let us especially reflect on how our lives burst forth with the joy of Christ. Can people see the resurrection in us? Let us find one way today to make our lives into “joyful shout” for Christ.

- Tim Gabrielli