Speak On...You are Unstoppable! [Let the light in you put the darkness in humanity to shame]
When the rulers and elders and scribes saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition...
They could not deny the notable sign which has been performed through them, it was made manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, yet they connived among themselves to charge them not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. It is true that the dark intentions, evil of mind and heart frightens men, for this is why 'Man' constantly tilts towards darkness instead of embracing the light. But Peter and John answered them:
"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:13-21)
It is indeed necessary to thank the Lord
Meditate over the words of Ps. 118:1, 14-15, 15-18,19-21
I will thank you, Lord, for you have answered me.
Give praise to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and salvation
in the tents of the just.
The Lord's right hand has done mighty deeds;
his right hand is exalted.
The Lord's right hand has done mighty deeds.
I shall not die, I shall live and recount
the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord punished me, punished me severely, but did not hand me over to death.
Open to me the gates of justice:
I will enter and thank the Lord.
This is the Lord's own gate, where the just enter.
I will thank you, for you have answered,
and you are my saviour.
Reprove for Disbelief... [Believe first, then you can preach the gospel to the whole world]
Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. Christ appeared to others in another form to two of them. He also appeared to the Eleven themselves as they sat at the table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. Christ gave them this mandate:
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Reflection (Resurrection is beyond Imagination)
The risen Lord first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then he appeared to two disciples, but their testimony was not believed. He now appears to the college of Apostles and reproves them for their disbelief and hardness of heart. This is evidence enough that the Resurrection is not a product of the Imagination. The first attitude of the missionary—of each one of us—is the awareness of his or her inadequacy in bringing to others the Good News of salvation, because none of us is free from hardness of heart and smallness of faith. But our participation in the Easter mystery makes it possible for us to proclaim the Gospel.
(Mark 16:9-15).