Catholic Mom Daily Gospel Reflections Logo with gold outlineToday's Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

Have you ever told someone about something you saw or experienced and had them not believe you? It can be a bit frustrating, especially if you are excited about what happened!

How disappointed these witnesses to Jesus’ resurrected Presence must have been, when they shared the incredible news that He was alive and they had seen and talked with Him. Longing to share the joy of this encounter, their hearts must have been grieved by the “hardness of heart” of their hearers. And yet, driven by that same joy, they most likely kept proclaiming the Truth, Jesus Christ alive and risen, to anyone else whose heart might be free enough to receive. A life with Christ looks insanely unreal at times, but the gospel reminds us we are to be fools for Christ. When we read Scripture, we know we hear Him speaking to us. During a family rosary, we know that Our Lady is in the room. In conversation with a friend, it is clear that the Holy Spirit has just manifested His power by revealing a truth to us. In faithful prayer, we receive a creative solution to a problem. After Holy Communion, in silence, we have never felt so fully loved or alive! God is real, and we know it!

Ponder:

Do I hesitate to share my encounters with the Lord, because people will think I’m a bit crazy? God has manifested His resurrected power in me! How can I move to a place of confidence in this Truth, so that I can lovingly proclaim all that He has done in my life?

Pray:

Jesus, you know how I fear rejection. I ask you today to overwhelm me with the joy and knowledge of your Resurrected Presence in my life. I ask you to help me call to mind all the marvelous works you have done in me by your saving power. I ask that you allow these realities to press to the front and be made manifest in my mortal flesh so that I can be a living witness in my body and in my speech to your great act of rising from the dead to heal and restore me! Amen! Alleluia!

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Cynthia Ann Costello