Saturday of the Octave of Easter 2026

Gospel 

Mark 16:9-15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he 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.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

 

 

You cannot make this up.

 

The disciples we are told by Mark still do not believe and now the risen Christ rebukes them. Rebuked them for their hardness of heart and unbelief.

 

One could look at this and take away that Jesus wasn’t very good at choosing leadership for his ministry, but we know Jesus always made the best choices whether we agree or not for he is God and we are not. So, we must look at these men who sometimes can shock us with their unbelief and take heart in their folly. For we too find ourselves short on faith and unable to open our hearts to Jesus at times.

 

So yes, he chose people like you and me. Which should give us great encouragement that no matter how off track we may have gone at times. No matter how poor a life we have led to this point, Jesus says that’s okay. I will choose you anyway and you can still follow me and find the joy and peace of knowing you are doing what you were created to do. How awesome is that for us?

 

We are closing on this octave of Easter. The 8 days following Easter are solemn and holy. This is a good time to double down on our priorities and repentance.

 

What has stopped us from following him more and giving ourselves over to his will?

 

We can be hard of heart not allowing him to speak to us. Maybe it is through others and we ignore them…kind of like the disciples did when others said he had risen.

 

We can know him but not quite believe him as the one God who came to redeem us. The one who loves us more than we have ever thought we could be loved.

 

Today let’s give our life to him and walk on the path he sets for us. It is a path we were created for. A path to build the kingdom of God here with the blessings and life he gave us.

 

Let us bring the awestruck exhilaration of knowing Jesus rose from the dead and is with us still….let us bring that moment into each day and allow him to own our hearts and day. Do everything for him. At work. In the home. All for Jesus Christ who gave all for us and offered his love to us when we were yet still sinners.

 

Let’s open our hearts a little more today.