Time to get cracking.
Our Gospel today made me think about my 7th Grade Science teachers. They did not pull any punches with us. I always felt their department took it upon themselves to make it clear that we were no longer in Elementary School. In addition to teaching us how to dissect a frog, they taught us about responsibility and accountability. I had Mr. Davenport for science. He was no slouch and definitely not a couch. I felt very blessed to have him, and he’s one of my all time favorite teachers. The other science teachers were pretty good too, and they all had interesting sayings to tell us to work with a sense of urgency. One would always say, “Time to get cracking.” I always found that amusing. Does that mean like cracking rocks? Well, I feel like in today’s Gospel for this Easter Saturday, Jesus is telling the eleven to get cracking. So after hearing stories of the Resurrection from Saint John, Saint Matthew, and Saint Luke during the Octave of Easter, we finally hear from Saint Mark. We read:
“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.’”
It’s like Jesus is saying, “Get going guys, get cracking!” With today’s Gospel passage, Saint Mark moves quickly and concisely through these events, but it seems to bring a sense of excitement and urgency to the Gospel. With that, is there something our Risen Lord would like you to get cracking on? Jesus came to teach and heal and to be an example of virtue for us to imitate. He came to set us free from sin and death, and He was victorious. May Jesus help us to live from this deep truth, and give us what we need to reflect His self-giving love to all! God bless and stay safe!
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Breck
Pastor, St. Mary Magdalene
