Mark 16:9-15 Go out into all the world

The mission of the Holy Catholic Church takes itself directly from Christ Jesus.  He always gathered to him those who needed healing, those who responded to his call, he taught them, then sent them out to others to share the Good News.  The first reading is from Acts of the Apostles: "Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus."  The Apostles and others were just like the vast majority of us.  Yet, they were called to their respective vocations, ministries, and missions that Christ assigned to them, just like we are. 

The others called to accompany Christ Jesus through his ministry were not just the Apostles, but the other disciples chosen to bear witness to the Kingdom, Christ's death, and Resurrection.  The Gospel tells us about Mary Magdalene, "...he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons."  He healed her and saved her.  How many of us have demons, real, imaginary, and those caused by mental trauma or disease, that plague us and hold us back.  Yet she was called just as we are.  What about the two on the road to Emmaus to whom he appeared in a different form?  They were just average guys trying to get on with their lives.  Yet, they too were summoned to bear witness to the Glory of the Resurrected Lord.  And yet these witnesses "returned and told the others; but they (the Apostles) did not believe them either."

Sometimes we are called to do things that we know are right, even though it is difficult, even though others will laugh at us and won't believe.  Doing what is right is sometimes very tough.  Yet in the end we will be judged not by others, but by Christ.  We will be vindicated for our righteousness and living in the Truth by him for we read in the Gospel, "the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised."  These first witnesses of the Resurrection were vindicated by God.  We are to all go forth and proclaim the Good News!  Alleluia!