Gospel, Luke (24: 36-48)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
St. Luke’s catechesis on the Resurrection begins with reports of the apparition of Jesus to the women from the tomb and to the disciples on the road to Emmaus’.
This apparition (Lk 24: 35-48) is different and underlines the mission of the Apostles as the faithful witnesses of Easter events: Jesus is not a ghost (vs. 37-39), so much so that he eats the baked fish (vs. 41-43). There can be no doubt in those who must continue the work of the Lord.
It becomes necessary for us to have a deeper understanding of what had occurred and of that which the Apostles are witness (vs. 48). The explanation of these events in light of scripture from the Old Testament (from “Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms”: (vs. 44) It becomes evident that only by being totally conversant with scripture, as had occurred with the disciples of Emmaus, that it is possible to pass from unbelief to the paschal faith. The task of the Apostles from now on will be to announce in the Name of the Risen Jesus the conversion and forgiveness of sins.(vs. 47)
Jesus reminds all disciples throughout history: “you are the witnesses of all these things”. The testimony that Christ asks of us, is deeper than just the spoken word it ask for a total commitment.
Today, Jesus reaches out to all of us and offers salvation through our gestures of welcome, our charity and generosity of love for each other. These gestures testify, before all, that Christ is alive and that He continues his work of deliverance for all of humanity in the world.
Let us continue our pilgrimage with Christ in sight, giving witness to the joy of living the Resurrection in the midst of our brethren.
Prayer
O Father, that in the glorious death of your Son, victim of the atonement for our sins, you laid the foundation of reconciliation and peace, open our hearts to true conversion and make us witnesses of the new Humanity, pacified in Your love and to give praise for the truth of Resurrection. Amen