The Savior Who Came to Dinner

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.”

Today our author reprises the appearances of Jesus to His followers and Jesus rebukes the Apostles for their unbelief and tells them to go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.  The Eleven wanted to do what Jesus said but honestly, they were afraid.  The crucifixion was still fresh in their minds and they were worried, not without cause, that the temple gang would be after them next and they were not quite ready for what that could mean.  Jesus would whip them into shape (no pun intended.)

So it is for us too. Each of us has seen the works of Jesus in our very own lives. We've walked with Him for years and yet we still are afraid to proclaim what we know is the truth. We let those who find no joy in holiness whisper into the ears of our politicians and our politicians because they hear no contrary voice get it stuck into their stubborn mulish heads that they are hearing what their constituents want and when we finally find our timid voice and raise a feeble protest they assume that they are hearing from the minority.  We Christians have been taking it on the chin since the very beginning of Christianity.  This is because we are the very definition of counter-culture.  As Catholics, because unlike the Protestant communities whose beliefs change with the wind, we have rich, true, doctrines that have not changed in two thousand years.  They haven't changed because they are how God wants us to live to attain happiness with Him forever. 

So what am I suggesting here?  We need to become engaged in the process of our country and our voice needs to be heard and our strength must be projected.  We Catholics have to be the lighthouse for the world for the world dwells in darkness and cannot see the rocks she is heading for. 

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY IS TOMORROW

How to gain the indulgence this Sunday: 
This Plenary Indulgence is obtained by observing the usual dispositions that are in place for the granting of this grace through the Intercession of the Catholic Church, that is: Sacramental Confession (the confession may take place some days before), Holy Communion, to pray for the intentions of the pope (an Our Father and Hail Mary is minimum requirement), when the faithful detached from any sin, even venial, either:

• In any church or chapel take part in the prayers and devotions in honor of the Divine Mercy.
• In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, say an Our Father and Creed.

...in both cases, adding a devout prayer to the Merciful Lord (i.e. "Merciful Jesus, I trust in You.").