greater faith
“He took them to task for their disbelief.” —Mark 16:14
At the end of St. Mark’s Gospel, the Lord strongly calls us to believe. Jesus’ disciples refused to believe the Resurrection-witness of St. Mary Magdalene or that of the two disciples who met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Mk 16:11, 13). So Jesus “took them to task for their disbelief and their stubbornness, since they had put no faith in those who had seen Him after He had been raised. Then He told them: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation. The man who believes in it and accepts baptism will be saved’ ” (Mk 16:14-16).
At the end of St. Luke’s Gospel, the Lord said: “How slow you are to believe” (Lk 24:25). Then Jesus “opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45), for faith “comes through hearing” and hearing by God’s Word (see Rm 10:17).
At the end of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus said to St. Thomas: “Do not persist in your unbelief, but believe!” (Jn 20:27) Thomas responded by making the great act of faith in Jesus as Lord and God (Jn 20:28). John concludes: “These have been recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that through this faith you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31).
Jesus commands us to be His Resurrection witnesses. Without faith we cannot do this. But in faith we “cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen” of the risen Christ (Acts 4:20).
On this day in the octave of Easter, turn to the risen Christ and cry out: “I believe! Help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24, RSV-CE)
Prayer: Lord, “increase our faith” (Lk 17:5).
Promise: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight for us to obey you rather than God.” —Acts 4:19
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus! Praise Jesus, the Conqueror of death! Alleluia forever!
Reference: (For a related teaching on Hold Fast to the Faith, listen to, download or order our AV 71-1 or V 71 on our website.)
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