From the Gospel according to Mark16:9–15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,out of whom he had driven seven demons.She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.When they heard that he was aliveand had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another formto two of them walking along on their way to the country.They returned and told the others;but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to themand rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heartbecause they had not believed thosewho saw him after he had been raised.He said to them, “Go into the whole worldand proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Go out to the whole world
Jesus told us: “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn 15:14). And in this Gospel, the risen Christ urges us to proclaim the Good News to the whole world: Jesus Christ is risen—He has conquered death!
We are witnesses to Christ’s Resurrection in our marriage—we have seen it and we are living it. We cannot remain silent! Spouses, let us go out into the whole world to proclaim the joy of the Resurrection: to our family, friends, acquaintances, at work, in our social lives—in every corner of our daily reality—announcing the Gospel of marriage, because that is our world. Through our witness, through the example of our lives, we must proclaim the Good News of marriage to everyone.
Applied to married life:
Rose: You know what? I’m so happy. This morning a colleague came to me and said that she and her husband were thinking about getting divorced. She asked me what had happened to me lately, because I seem so joyful and never complain about you anymore. So I told her about the beauty of marriage as God intended it, about the possibility of going on a retreat, of giving each other another chance… and I think she might suggest it to her husband.
Alfie: Rose, my dear, maybe you shouldn’t mix marriage topics with your work.
Rose: When Christ asked us to proclaim the Gospel, He didn’t exclude places or moments. He told us to go out into the whole world and proclaim it to all creation.
Alfie: Considering how hard it was for you to get that job, don’t you think you might be overexposing yourself?
Rose: Remember today’s first reading, Alfie—when the apostles were forbidden to preach in Jesus’ name, and they replied that they must obey God rather than men. Besides, when you’ve discovered the greatness of marriage in your own life, you simply can’t keep it to yourself.
Alfie: That’s true. Sometimes human fears hold me back. But it’s wonderful that your coworkers have noticed the change in us—and I admire your courage. You’re right: we’ve discovered the greatness of our marriage, and we shouldn’t be afraid to be witnesses to what God has done in us.
Mother,
Teach us to live always doing the will of the Father, proclaiming the Word of the Son without fear of the world or its consequences, but abandoning ourselves to His providence, just as you always did. Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! Praise be the Lord forever!