Today’s readings in the Octave of Easter show us the dynamic power of sharing by “uneducated, ordinary men [and women]” who have encountered Jesus. 

The first reading from Acts presents an encounter with established authorities who preferred to suppress rather than believe the Gospel.   The authorities recognized Peter and John as “the companions of Jesus.”  What a wonderful way to be recognized!  Such companionship does not always lead to welcoming and accolades.  As the apostle Paul has described elsewhere, we are “the fragrance of Christ” among those who are being saved and among the perishing.  2 Cor. 2:15-17.  Not all enjoy our aroma.

Despite threats and warnings, Peter and John did not shrink back in fear.  They had experienced truth that they could not suppress.  Many believed on account of their testimony and the miraculous signs that accompanied them.  But others who saw the same miracles and heard the same testimony were unable to break free from their former ways of thinking and living. 

Today’s gospel presents another account of disbelief, this time among disciples who had been close to Jesus.  Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, a woman of low social status.  He chose not to appear to his famous adversaries among the Sanhedrin and the Roman government, who might have used their positions of status and authority to convince others.  He preferred Mary Magdalene even to his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. 

Mary Magdalene’s testimony about her encounter with Jesus was not well received – it was dismissed as not credible.  I am reminded of a story from my youth.  After we had come in from the evening’s farm chores, my mother informed us that someone had stolen the pork chops she had set out on the kitchen counter to thaw for our supper.  My brother, my father, and I all guffawed at her account.  Stolen pork chops!  Really Mom?  We’ll have to alert the sheriff to a ring of pork chop bandits!  But soon we started looking around.  Our hunting rifles and shotguns were gone.  My dad’s camera was gone.  We had indeed been burglarized (though our farmhouse was never locked in those days) and the thief had helped himself to my mom’s pork chops!  My mother had been vindicated.  I am still sheepish about doubting her.  I am sorry, Mom.    

Our Lord vindicates Mary Magdalene by appearing in person to the other disciples and rebuking them for their unbelief and hardness of heart.  But he did not dwell on their mistakes.  He told them to get to work: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”  And so they did.  (And to Mary Magdalene’s credit, there is no account of her gloating, which would have been hard to avoid in these circumstances!)

Unbelief and hardness of heart are closely related.  We need correction at such times, a reminder that we becoming distracted by people, events, and circumstances that are challenging us and calling us to a deeper and more persistent faith.  Hardness of heart accompanies unbelief because it prevents love, faith, and hope from entering into our ways of thinking and living.

Lord, please deliver us from the maladies of hard and unbelieving hearts.  Light a fire in us and around us to melt the ice that prevents us from receiving your love, which motivates us to share that love with others.  Help us to kindle the fire of belief in others around us. Thanks be to God.