September 17, 2010
Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
By Melanie Rigney
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:12-17)
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. (Psalms 17:15)
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. (Luke 8:1-3)
Piety
Lord, let me believe.
Study
Today’s first reading is stark and challenging. It’s not enough to believe Christ rose from the dead, Paul tells us; you have to believe that you too will be raised after death.
Jesus was fully man and fully God, after all. It’s an interesting parlor game to talk about what he knew and when he knew it about his life and his ministry and his excruciating death… and that beautiful Easter morning when the tomb was found empty, for he lived again. But he isn’t like us. He turned away the devil. He turned the other cheek. He tolerated, no, he loved the apostles and other followers, no matter how dense and clueless they were.
In the end, it doesn’t matter when he knew. What’s important is that he showed everyone his belief, his faith in the Father’s wisdom, no matter what was asked of him. He calls us to do the same—nothing more, nothing less.
Action
Poke your faith around a little. Where is your preaching empty?
