The Jewish leaders were bent on containing the spread of the Christian message. However, the boldness of the ordinary, uneducated apostles amazed them. With conviction in Jesus, Peter and John preached and performed miracles and refused to be forced to silence. Mary of Magdala had the same conviction and related Jesus' resurrection to the other disciples, but they refused to believe her. Finally, Jesus himself appeared to the eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, and then commanded them to "go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Jesus continues to offer this same gift of faith and conviction to all Christians, especially Catholics, through his self-revelation in the gospel and the Holy Eucharist. He wants us to believe and spread the good news to everyone everywhere. Even if authorities try to silence the message of truth, we, like the apostles, with words and deeds, must choose to obey God than men, speaking justice, truth, reconciliation, conversion, love, hope and life into a world filled with hatred, hopelessness, and sadness.

PRAYER: Lord, strengthen our faith in you to be fearless preachers of love by word and deed. Amen.