Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature
Of all the people in the world, Jesus chose to appear to Mary Magdalene first. A woman “out of whom He had driven seven demons,” which sounds like a polite way of saying “someone with a checkered past.” Like Mary, I too felt fear and excitement at the longed for, and yet unexpected, appearance of Jesus in my own life. His love also scattered many demons that haunted my life before I knew Christ. If the encounter wasn’t initiated by Him, I wouldn’t even believe it to be real, because I would never presume myself worthy of His love after so much sin. And yet, Jesus made Himself known to me and much like in today’s Gospel, charged me with the task of proclaiming the Good News of His merciful love to the whole world.
At first this felt like too tall of an order to talk about my love for Jesus publicly in the secular, even atheist world. Who am I to be a spokesperson for Jesus when I spent so many years actively criticizing His Church? Who will listen to me, a sinner?
Like Mary Magdalene, I too have encountered disbelief, hardened hearts and strange looks when I share what Jesus has done and is doing in my life. But the joy of knowing Jesus strengthens me and places the emphasis on just making the effort, while letting Him handle the outcome. I am less sensitive now to people’s reactions because instead of giving people the power to judge me, I now let Jesus, my Lord, be my judge. He gives me the grace to share my testimony and I see how He is using it to help bring others closer to His Sacred Heart.
How has Jesus appeared to you in your faith journey?
Who in your life might God be inviting you to share the Good News of His love with?
Sarah Vitorino