Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Saturday in the Easter Octave. The boldness of uneducated, ordinary men recognized as companions of Jesus. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard. Mary Magdalene believed first and the men did not. Jesus rebukes hardness of heart. Go into the whole world.

The leaders observe the boldness of Peter and John and are amazed, recognizing that these uneducated, ordinary men have been companions of Jesus. The healed man is standing right there in the room, and the authorities can say nothing in reply. They order Peter and John never to speak in the name of Jesus again. Peter and John answer plainly: whether it is right to obey you rather than God, you be the judges - it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard. In the Gospel, the Risen Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, who immediately tells the other disciples. They do not believe her. He appears to two disciples on the road, and the rest do not believe them either. He then appears to the Eleven at table and rebukes them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they refused to believe those who had already seen him. He commissions them: go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.

DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you turn uneducated, ordinary people into bold witnesses through their companionship with you. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON/PRIEST: Christ Jesus, you appeared first to Mary Magdalene and rebuked those who refused to believe her testimony. PEOPLE: Christ, have mercy.

DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you send us into the whole world to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: The joyful shout of victory rises from the tents of the just. Let us bring our prayers before the Risen Lord.

DEACON/LECTOR:

1. For Pope Leo, for our bishop, and for all who preach the Gospel, that the boldness of Peter and John - rooted in companionship with Christ rather than credentials - would mark their ministry and their witness, we pray to the Lord.

2. For those who have been told to keep their faith silent at work, at school, or in their families, that Peter's words would become their own: it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard, we pray to the Lord.

3. For those whose hearts have grown hard this Easter season, who want to believe but find themselves unable, that the Risen Christ would meet them at their table with patient presence, we pray to the Lord.

4. For our parish community as we prepare for Divine Mercy Sunday, that the mercy of God would reach every person who needs to hear that no sin is beyond the reach of his forgiveness, we pray to the Lord.

5. For all whose witness has been dismissed, especially women who like Mary Magdalene have carried the truth into rooms that refused to listen, that their faithfulness would be honored by the Lord who sent them, we pray to the Lord.

6. For those who have crossed from this life into the presence of the Risen Lord, that the boldness they carried in faith would be rewarded with the joyful shout of victory that echoes in the tents of the just, we pray to the Lord.

PRIEST: Risen Lord, you make ordinary people into extraordinary witnesses. Give us Peter's boldness, Mary Magdalene's faithfulness, and hearts soft enough to believe what we have seen and heard. Through Christ our Risen Lord. Alleluia! Amen.