HE APPEARED IN ANOTHER FORM…

Acts 4:13-21

13 Now when they 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. 14 But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another, 

16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.” 

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 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; 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened. 

Mark 16:9-15

9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 

12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at 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. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

MEDITATION

The Sanhedrin who interrogated Peter on the matter of the miraculous healing of the cripple man were not convinced nor moved by their testimonies.Peter and John’s audacious testimonies were disparagingly scorned by their interlocutors who considered them to be “uneducated common” stereotypes.The gag order that the Sanhedrin imposed was dismissed by Peter and John who made it clear that they could not accede to this injunction because of their obedience to God and not to man! 

St MARK’S GOSPEL account records the dismissive response of the apostles to Mary Magdalene’s lachrymose testimony of the discovery of the empty tomb and her having had sight of Jesus was judged to be delusional in that she lacked credibility because she had a history of being demon possessed! Lk 8:2 Even the testimonies of the two men from Emmaus who recognized Jesus “in another form” were dismissed by the apostles.

Mark informs us that the eleven apostles finally recognized our Lord when He appeared to them when they “sat at table!” I submit that this testimony account refers to our Lord’s (Jn 20:26) appearance in the Upper room in His glorified state when Thomas’s inquiry brought to an end the dismissive speculation and unbelief of the apostles. We notice that our Lord castigated the apostles who continuously disbelieved His resurrection from the tomb and  the testimonies of a number of witnesses who corroborated that they saw Him in different ‘forms!’

Below is the testimony of an Early Church Father who unequivocally defended and affirmed the Catholic doctrine of the Holy Eucharist! May you also come to recognize and come to believe that Christ is truly  Present in the form of bread and wine in the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass!

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 A.D.)

“I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, WHICH IS THE FLESH OF JESUS CHRIST, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I DESIRE HIS BLOOD, which is love incorruptible. (Letter to the Romans 7:3)

Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: FOR THERE IS ONE FLESH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and one cup IN THE UNION OF HIS BLOOD; one ALTAR, as there is one bishop with the presbytery… (Letter to the  Philadelphians 4:1)

They [i.e. the Gnostics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that THE EUCHARIST IS THE FLESH OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again. (Letter to Smyrnians 7:1).”

LET US PRAY: Psalms 118:1,14-21

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 

15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, 

16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” 

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. 

18 The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death. 

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 

20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 

21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation. 

catholicwitnessct@gmail.com    Henry R SYLVESTER              

Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days of saints around the world.