Reflection
Today’s gospel, Mark 16:9-15, feels somehow bumpy, even jolting. A closer examination, however, reveals there is hope, even in the midst of those scriptural potholes. Part of the seeming instability may also have to do with the fact that scholars generally agree that Mark concludes his gospel with chapter 16, verse 8, and that many years later, verses 9-20 were added because the shorter version uncomfortably focused on the terror and fear of the disciples and their apparent failure to announce Christ’s resurrection. That is not our issue today, however.
For the disciples, and for us, the issue, the challenge, has to do with faith. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, when Jesus had risen, he appeared to Mary Magdalene. She immediately hastened to tell the grieving disciples the good news that she had seen the Risen Christ. But they refused to believe her. This passage most certainly comes from the gospel of John.
Jesus also appeared to two disciples “walking along their way to the country, a clear reference to the two disciples walking to Emmaus in Luke’s gospel. These disciples also proclaim the good news to the apostles. Still, the disciples did not believe.
Then, later at the table, the Risen Christ appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief. Finally, he commissions them:
“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” which is an abbreviated version of the Great Commission in Matthew’s gospel.
Again, faith is at center stage in this gospel. Many years ago, Dr. Michael Downey, a gifted theologian and member of the Mater Dolorosa Passionist retreat preaching team, asked a weekend retreat group, “What is the opposite of faith?” Some answered doubt, others unbelief, and yet others mistrust in God.
No, replied Dr. Downey. The opposite of faith is “smug certainty.”
His insightful comment came to mind as I reflected on today’s gospel. Faith in the Risen Christ came slowly to some, if not all, the apostles. It took a few occasions and apparitions to convince them that the Lord had risen from the dead. No smug certainty here, only an arduous struggle to believe.
Who among us today would have reacted any differently than those apostles? Throughout our lives, faith has its ups and downs. So often in life, we must walk in the darkness of incomprehensible tragedy, sorrow, broken hearts and shattered dreams, refusing to believe. And yet, it may be in these dark moments that our faith grows most deeply. Jesus understood the weak faith of the apostles, but he sent them out on mission anyway.
So too with us. Christ calls us to proclaim the good news of his resurrection, however imperfectly we may do so, knowing that at times in our bumpy, uncertain lives, our faith may feel like soul-jolting potholes of unbelief — and yet, and yet, Christ calls us, anyway.
