Easter Saturday – First Reading

Commentary on Acts 4:13-21

Today’s passage from Acts continues from yesterday’s First Reading and describes the second half of the ‘trial’ of Peter and John before the members of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin are astonished at the self-confidence of the two Apostles, considering that they are uneducated fishermen. They had no training in rabbinic schools, nor did they have any standing in recognised religious circles. They were, in the eyes of their judges, ‘only’ lay people.

It is important to remember that faith and convictions do not depend on learning. It is also clearly implied that the source of their strength and confidence is Jesus. The rulers, elders and scribes:

…when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

Our Church consists of the highest intellectuals as well as people who are completely illiterate; all have equal access to knowing and loving God, and all have equal access to the highest levels of contemplation, mysticism and sanctity.

The Apostles’ judges in this case are obviously intellectual snobs, a kind not unknown in Christian circles. Because they could not deny the extraordinary cure that had taken place in the full view of a large number of people, the Jewish leaders could only tell the Apostles not to speak any more about Jesus. In matters of this kind it seems that the accused, unless they were rabbis, could not be jailed except for a second offence.

We can never be stopped from preaching the gospel. Nor can we ever obey such an order. As Peter told his judges:

Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.

It reminds one of St Thomas More’s words to his accusers: “The King’s good servant, but God’s first.” The judges felt obliged to implement the law, but there are situations where the law cannot be followed.

Of course, we have to be careful that it is not our own interpretation of the truth that we proclaim. At the same time, we are bound to follow our conscience and follow the truth as we know it. If we are wrong, it will be exposed. Eventually, real Truth will always come to the surface.

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Easter Saturday – Gospel

Commentary on Mark 16:9-15

This passage, known as the ‘Longer Ending’ of Mark’s Gospel, is a kind of summary of all that we have been reading during the past week. The end of Mark’s Gospel has verses many commentators believe are not part of the original text. Most commentators believe the original text ends with verse 16:8. However, this ending is so abrupt that many feel the original ending was somehow lost and this ending was put in its place.

Although the style shows it was not written by Mark, it has long been accepted as a canonical part of the Gospel, and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. It was known to Tatian and to Irenaeus in the 2nd century, and is found in the vast majority of Greek manuscripts.

The text consists of brief summaries of longer stories which appear in the other Gospels (Luke 24 and John 20), e.g. the appearance to Mary Magdalene, the disciples going to Emmaus, and Jesus’ appearance in the upper room.

The common theme is the incredulity of the disciples, who could not accept that Jesus was truly risen. Right to the very end of his Gospel, Mark continues to be harsh on the disciples’ lack of understanding. It is, of course, not about them he is writing, but about us.

The passage seems directed at many of the early Christians’ contemporaries who would not accept the message of Christ risen. But as we can see from the First Reading today, the disciples very soon not only found faith, but were more than ready to suffer and die for it.

In our times of doubt, let us remember their experience and their example and the fruits of their work. It is a work that still urgently needs to be done.

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