She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and
weeping. But when they heard that he lived, and had been seen by her,
they would not believe it. After this he showed himself in another form to two of
them, as they were walking into the country. These men also went back and
told the others, but they did not believe them. Later Jesus showed himself to
the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief,
and hardness of heart, in refusing to believe those who had seen him after
he had risen. Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim
the Good News to all creation."
Reflect
“Proclaim the Good News.” The synoptic Gospels, in their present respective
forms, narrate Jesus commissioning his disciples to go out and proclaim the
Good News (cf. Mt. 28:16- 20 and Lk. 24:44-49). Matthew emphasizes the
mandate to make all the nations Jesus’ disciples. In Luke, there is an emphasis
on the preaching of repentance to all nations. In Mark, the instruction is to “go
out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk. 16:15).
Mark uses the word ktisis, which means “creation.” The mandate is to proclaim
the Good News not only to human creatures but to all creation. Hence, the
challenge is to exercise our Christian responsibility not only to one another but
also to the rest of created reality. God is compassionate to all that he has made
(cf. Ps. 145:9). It is part of our mission to care for our common home. We need
to bring back that sense of care not only to our fellow human beings but to other
creatures as well. We need to be mindful of the many creatures becoming
instinct every day due to our selfishness. May the Divine Mercy free us from
selfishness, enabling us to truly care for our common home.
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