Saturday within Easter Octave : 6th April 2024

Peter and John had healed a lame man and then had been questioned and arrested by the temple authorities. The next day Peter and John explained their actions to the authorities highlighting the good news of Jesus Christ. With the previously lame man in their midst and with the boldness of the disciples in preaching the love of Jesus, the religious authorities were astonished by their boldness despite being uneducated, so they decided to release them with the warning that they were not to speak of Jesus again. Nevertheless, the disciples continued to share the good news with everyone, and we ought to be grateful for that.

The Gospel of Mark gives us an interesting report of Jesus’ resurrection appearances. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdelene, no one believed her. The same thing happened when Jesus appeared to two other disciples. Only when Jesus appeared to all eleven disciples at once, did they believe that He had risen. Jesus’ appearance astonished them. It was a life changing encounter. How does that impact us? We were not alive during the time of the Resurrection and yet we are called to believe. It is by faith that we believe and we know by faith that Jesus is indeed alive in our hearts.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of faith that never ceases to astonish us.