THURSDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER, APRIL 08, 2021

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Lk 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.”

REFLECTION: "And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed."

What does it mean the disciples "were still incredulous for joy"? Were they so happy to see Him they did not believe their own eyes?

Mark 16:14 tells us: "[But] later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised."

Our Lord first greets the disciples wishing them peace. (Luke 24:36, and John 20:19).

Then He shows them His Wounds. With this they were still amazed and probably still fearful. Eating in front of them was probably a charity, so they stopped thinking Jesus was a ghost, and could calm down.

Then a marvelous thing happens, when He "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" that they start to really comprehend the passion and the Resurrection of Our Lord. (Luke 24:45, and John 20:22).

So we see that we cannot understand or follow God by our own accord. We can will it at first, but we must have His Grace, we must receive the Holy Spirit to be disciples that can follow through.

We are in the season of Easter, now preparing for the Ascension, and then Pentecost.

Let's spend more time during these 50 days to learn more about the Holy Spirit, and how He helps us be free from the fear that stunts our spiritual growth.

Join us every Wednesday in our Bible Study: Face ZBS, where we do real "deep dives" into Holy Scripture "The Catholic Way" using the method of CeeTee (Critical Thinking).

Come. Join us in our search to understand what our beliefs really are. Let us not be afraid to get ready for the Paraclete!

God Bless y'all!