The Octave

We have now entered Eastertide. Or the Octave of Easter.

These eight weeks that follow Easter Sunday are a time, in Christianity, for rejoicing at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For taking unto ourselves the "newness of life" that Christ foretold. If you are going to open up your heart and mind to Jesus ... this is the time of year to get busy. 

During much of these eight weeks we read from The Acts of the Apostles. Literally this New Testament book, written by the Apostle Luke, details the actions of the Apostles in the months after Christ's incredible resurrection.

In Acts, Luke has provided a broad survey of the church’s development from the resurrection of Jesus to Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, the point at which the book ends. In telling this story, Luke describes the emergence of Christianity from its origins in Judaism to its position as a religion of worldwide status and appeal. 

We read how the Apostles - who scattered after the crucifixion and went into hiding - reunite in the glorious appearing of Christ. For 40 days Jesus walks with the Apostles, using the Holy Spirit to continue his ministry with them until his Ascension.

My beautiful country parish home.

For these next eight weeks, I will focus on the Gospel readings, plus those from The Acts of the Apostles, to - with prayerful contemplation - attempt to provide a conversational time with our Lord and Savior. A - coffee chat - with the man who gave his life for our sins. Our Redeemer.

Today's Gospel reading, from the Roman Catholic Missal, is from the Gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 16:

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.

It is important to note that the first people Jesus appeared to were - the women. Those very women who had remained with him after his last breaths on the Cross, the ones who stayed when Christ was taken down from that Cross and placed in the Tomb. The ones who watched as the rock was rolled over the opening, sealing away their beloved Messiah.

The men? They didn't believe. Why not? Fear? They certainly were in fear for their own lives in the days following Christ's death. St. Peter himself - the rock on which Christ built his church - denied his Lord three times even before the Crucifixion. They were, quite literally, on the run from the Sanhedrin. 

Did they lose their faith in Jesus and his ministry? Personally, I don't think so. Like every human in all of time, we have a "fight or flight" response. And certainly after seeing Jesus Christ scourged, beaten, and crucified would put the "flight" response into action.

I can imagine Jesus - so patient and loving yet a radical - gazing on his beloved Apostles and sighing inwardly...Did I not tell them I would return to them? What do I have to do - show them the wounds?

Well, that's what was needed. And show them, he did.