Stubbornness

And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. 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. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 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.’ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:9-20

It is painfully hard to change our opinions when we are sure we are right. When our eyes have shown us what we know to be the end, the finality of a relationship, it is hard for us to change our minds. It is more than just a mental shift but entailed our whole being, body, mind and spirit. The disciples were slow to change their minds since they had seen their teacher's death up close. And, they had learned the good news of the resurrection from a woman, who was a troubled person, and probably considered emotionally unstable. Most women still are. Yet, we are invited to restore hope and possibility within us, to open ourselves to be changed anew, for God is not, and never will be done with us.

Gracious Creator, you demonstrate love to us

in every breath we take, in every kind word

we find your love in the wind and the storms

as well as in the tender touch of loved ones.

We are stubborn and turn from being faithful

when we are hurt, betrayed and in deep pain

we reject the love and healing you offer us all

and wallow in our despair and lick our wounds.

Yet you come to us and show your crucified self

to us in our darkest and emotionally unstable times

surrounding us with you love and deep renewal

so we might turn and share your love with others. Amen.