Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Mark 16:9-18 (NRSV)

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

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

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Reflect

After Jesus was resurrected, he appeared to Mary. She tried to tell the disciples what she had seen, but no one believed her. They were too preoccupied with their sadness about what had happened. It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them in person that they believed he was risen.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples, he was disappointed that they had not believed he was alive, but Jesus did not linger on this disappointment. He wanted his disciples to go out into the world and tell the world that he is alive and that they should proclaim this good news.

Jesus forgave his disciples for not believing that he had risen, but still called on them to preach the good news. This is a sign for all of us that no matter how little faith we have, Jesus will make himself known to us and we are still able to share the good news with all of those around us.

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Pray

Dear Lord, provide me with the strength and the knowledge to know when you are speaking to me. Give me the wisdom to know that you are present and will guide me to where I need to go. Give me the ability to recognize that no matter how far my faith is stretched, you will be present and calling on me to spread the good news that Jesus Christ is risen.

Go with God.