Believe

But he rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils. She went and told them that had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. And they hearing that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe. And after that he appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country. And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them. At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:9-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we read of two accounts of people witnessing Jesus resurrection and telling the disciples. And they had a hard time believing these people. Yet once Jesus stood in their presence he rebuked them, and it's no wonder why either. The people who witnessed seeing Jesus saw him and no one believed them. It happens even today, in our time also. Would we be believed if we saw Jesus standing in our midst and would it take him to stand there among those who didn't believe those who saw him. We would most certainly earn that rebuke then for our lack of faith in the risen Jesus. Do we witness his presence in our lives and spread the gospel message to all the world, to love God first and love our neighbor. Simple really. And to think Jesus challenges us to do something great for the kingdom of God.