Easter Saturday

Mass Entrance Words

This morning we remember the death of Fr. James Quinn SJ (90)

We come to mind the Edinburgh theology friends, James Quinn and Thomas Torrance. They are famous for the correspondence in the Scotsman on the questions on the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the Assumption of BVM.

James could always be counted on to attend the Ecumenical Meetings at Nunraw.

We pray for the soul of James and of Thomas Torrance.

+ + +

On this Low Saturday of Easter Octave, in the Gospel, St. Mark rebukes the unbelief of the disciples. Mark speaks almost staccato in the abruptness of the three appearances of the Resurrection of Jesus.
- Mary Magdalene reporting to the disciples,
- the partners on the road to Emmaus,
and at last, the appearance to the Eleven.

Mark is reproachful of the disciples compared to Luke and John.

Luke narrates of Peace and eating, John greets Pease and climaxes to Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit.

The ‘harmony’ of the Appearances in the three Gospels gives us the inner faith of the Resurrection.

PS. Jesus words, “those who saw him after he had been raised”, Mk 16:14, so simple, are manifold in strands of accepting.

The quotation from the mystic, Saint John of the Cross, throws light on the words, "He rebuked them for their unbelief " (see below)

(NAB) (But) later, as 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.	(NJB) Lastly, he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.	(NRSV) 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.	(RSV) Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.	(Vulgate) novissime recumbentibus illis undecim apparuit et exprobravit incredulitatem illorum et duritiam cordis quia his qui viderant eum resurrexisse non crediderant
Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church The Ascent of Mount Carmel, 3,31 (trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez) "He rebuked them for their unbelief " Where signs and testimonies abound, there is less merit in believing. God never works marvels except when they are a necessity for belief. Lest his disciples go without merit by having sensible proof of his resurrection, he did many things to further their belief before they saw him. Mary Magdalene was first shown the empty sepulcher, and afterward the angels told her about the resurrection so she would, by hearing, believe before seeing. As St. Paul says: «Faith comes through hearing» (Rom10,17) . And though she beheld him, he seemed only an ordinary man, so by the warmth of his presence he could finish instructing her in the belief she was lacking And the women were sent to tell the disciples first... And journeying incognito to Emmaus with two of his followers, he inflamed their hearts in faith before allowing them to see him. Finally he reproved all his disciples for refusing to believe those who had told them of his resurrection. And announcing to Thomas that they are blessed who believe without seeing (Jn 20,29), he reprimanded him for desiring to experience the sight and touch of his wounds.