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. (Lk 24:36-43)
We are believers.
We have been raised, most of us, from a very early age believing in Jesus.
We have slipped Christianity on like a glove and wear it, generally, quite comfortably.
Until.
Until tragedy comes into our lives. Tragedy often generates a great amount of doubt, fear, and confusion. When we get in any of those states, our faith often wavers, perhaps to the point of wondering if God is even real.
And then, many times, something supernatural happens to prove to us that God truly is real.
That can scare us even more than the emotions generated from tragedy! After all, when God, in one way, shape, or form stands before us and says, “Here I am!”, we certainly cannot help but take notice.
That is what happened in today’s Gospel. The disciples were frightened and lost when Jesus was taken from them. Then, they began to hear the incredible news that Jesus was alive, that He had been raised from the dead.
Hearing it and seeing it, though, are two entirely different things.
When the disciples finished recounting their story about encountering Jesus on the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared to them. They were terrified. Even when Jesus spoke words of comfort to them and showed them His hands and His feet, they were still terrified. They thought that they were seeing a ghost. So, Jesus went the extra mile and asked for food so that He could eat in front of them. After all, ghosts do not eat.
Jesus comes into our lives in many ways and forms. He comes to us in good times and comes to us when we are in distress. Sometimes, His coming frightens us — even terrifies us.
Jesus always goes the extra distance to prove Himself to us.
Be comforted in the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
He is alive.
He is among us!
FAITH ACTION: Prayerfully consider the selection from the Gospel above and ask yourself how the Lord has proven to you in the past that He exists. Celebrate His resurrection.