Before God, it is our Potential, not our Past that Counts

Homily for April 7, 2018.

“He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart… And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.’” Mark 16:14-15. 

Finally, we get to hear Mark’s version of the events that took place on Easter morning. It is from Mark that we get to hear that seven demons had been cast out of Mary Magdalene; the first person to see the resurrected Jesus. Why did Mark include such a detail about Mary Magdalene’s past? It is simply a confirmation of God’s word in the book of Ezekiel:

“But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins… he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him… Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? Ezekiel 18:21-23.

Again, Mark tells us that when Mary Magdalene delivered the news to the people who had been with Jesus (his disciples), they did not believe her. Even when Jesus again appeared to two of the disciples, and they brought the news to the others, they still refused to believe. For their hardness of heart, Jesus decided to appear to the Eleven and he upbraided them strongly for their unbelief.

Even though Jesus was not happy with them for doubting, he nonetheless proceeded to hand on to them the task of preaching the Gospel to the whole nations. This is also very interesting. These men not only doubted God’s ability to raise Jesus from the dead, they doubted themselves yet Jesus believed enough in them to entrust them with the task of preaching the Gospel.

God sees potential, God judges according to what he knows you are capable of doing not what you have done already. Who would have believed that the same Peter and John who were among the doubting disciples would become so bold as to challenge the rulers and elders and scribes as we read in our first reading?

Peter and John said: “We cannot but speak of what we have heard and seen.” They were willing to obey God rather than men not minding if the authorities would try to frustrate them. Dear friends, it doesn’t matter what your past has been, it doesn’t matter if you once doubted God, you too can go out there and preach the Good News. This is our essential duty as Christians.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, use me as your instrument of evangelization. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Easter Saturday. Bible Study: Acts 4:13-21 and Mark 16:9-15).