Category: Prayer Intention

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.” —Mark 16:14 In the Gospel reading, the apostles who had been with Jesus did not believe in His Resurrection (Mk 16:11, 13). In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, those who had been with Jesus were those who did believe in Him (Acts 4:13). What was the difference that caused the apostles to believe? One major difference is the outpouring of the...

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.” –Mark 16:14 In the Gospel reading, the apostles who had been with Jesus did not believe in His Resurrection (Mk 16:11, 13). In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, after the descent of the Holy Spirit, those who had been with Jesus were those who did believe in Him (Acts 4:13). What was the difference that caused the apostles to believe? One major difference is the outpouring of the...

“I am going out to fish.” –John 21:3 Jesus told Peter to leave the fishing business and follow Him (Mt 4:19). Even after meeting the risen Christ several times, Peter denied Christ again and returned to the fishing business. Peter denied Jesus, the Light, and chose the night. “All through the night they caught nothing” (Jn 21:3). Peter was naked (see Jn 21:7, NAB), and not clothed with power (Lk 24:49), righteousness (see Eph 6:14), and life in Christ (Eph 4:24). Peter chose night, nothing, and nakedness. Jesus, in all His mercy, forgave Peter another three times and proceeded to...

“This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are His witnesses.” –Acts 2:32 Jesus once made the statement that even if a person should rise from the dead, some will not be convinced (Lk 16:31). He was referring to those who would not believe the Scriptures. The soldiers who took the money knew well Jesus had risen from the dead; they knew no one could have stolen the body. They also had been paralyzed with fear at the appearance of the angels. Even the chief priests knew the disciples had not stolen Jesus’ body; they simply chose to...