Gospel: Lk 24:35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them 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.”
Homily
Some years ago I met an old friend who had been adopted as a baby. Both adopted parents died before this young man was in his teens. After a while I missed this young man and knew nothing more about him. Asking the family about him I was simply told that he was ungrateful. I saw this young man recently and he explained to me that he had left the home because of the bad treatment which he had received from his adopted family. Often enough we do not understand why persons act in certain ways and it is only when we have a talk with them that we begin to understand the course of action which they have taken.
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The lesson for us is very simple, we cannot convince anyone of the truth of Jesus Christ unless we have had a true experience of Jesus Christ and have built a relationship with this same Jesus.
This is in fact the lesson of the saints. Their lives bore witness to the truth of the Gospel, not because they were very erudite individuals, nor because they were very learned but simply because of their deep relationship with the Lord. The challenge then for all of us who consider ourselves disciples is to encounter and built a deep relationship with the Risen Lord. Let us ask Jesus himself and Mary his mother to help us achieve this encounter and build the deep relationship with Jesus the Christ.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, through baptism and confirmation, you call us to be witnesses to your Son Jesus and to the truth of the Gospel. We cannot do this however unless we know him. Gift us Lord God with an encounter with your Son. Help us to come to know him deeply, so that knowing Him and loving Him, we may be able to proclaim Him and the truth of the message. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother and the same Jesus, your Son. Amen
