A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 24:35-48
The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.
While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.
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
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.”
(The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!)
Reflection: Jesus is Risen!
Happy Easter, everyone! Our Lord Jesus is risen! And today we hear the account from the Gospel of Luke on how our Lord Jesus appeared first to two of the disciples who rushed back to tell everyone of the good news!
Then suddenly, Jesus stood in their midst, they were filled with fear as they thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus was really there! He came to visit them as himself in the flesh, and showed them his hands and his feet!
At first it was hard for the disciples to believe that their teacher and Lord was really in their presence as they stood amazed in front of him! I do not know about everyone else, but if I witnessed the burial of someone who I know had passed away, and then that person suddenly appears before me after a few days, I also may be terrified, and I may even doubt my senses. Some of us may think that we were dreaming, or that we are seeing a ghost!
So what does our Lord Jesus do to prove that He was really there? He asks them for food to eat, and Jesus eats a baked fish in front of them!
Jesus is risen! He is alive and well! This is our Lord and God who came in peace to fulfill everything that was said of Him by the prophets, as he then told the disciples that everything written about him in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled, as Jesus suffered, died and was risen from the dead on the third day!
Our Lord Jesus was risen from the dead to be our model for changing our ways, to live lives of holiness guided by His Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Trinity! And one day we will also pass away, and we will all be called one by one by our Lord Jesus, to rise again and live with all the holy faithful in His heavenly presence.
Brothers and sisters! Our Lord is risen! We are sent to share the good of news of His great mercy! Our Lord forgives us of our sins and He will guide us as we accompany, encourage, and pray for one another, and to serve one another with love, in our Lord Jesus’ most holy name! Our Lord Jesus journeys with us. Jesus is risen!
Action for the Day:
In quiet prayer share our gratitude to our Lord Jesus for preparing a way for us to be His children. Lord Jesus, thank you for your great sacrifice for us as you suffered, died and was risen again to show us the way to live lives of holiness! Thank you for accompanying us in our hearts since the day of our baptism! Please continue opening up our minds as we study the good news of your ways and your word. Continue to guide us by your Holy Spirit on how to share your great love, mercy and forgiveness, your gentleness and compassion to everyone!
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