After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples many times before his ascension. He intended to strengthen the disciples in their faith so that they could witness the Good News to the ends of the earth. Now the disciples can tell the whole world that Christ is truly risen. By his resurrection, Jesus has given us a new and authentic life that cannot be destroyed by death anymore.
The reading of today’s Gospel passage is from St. Luke, and the appearance of Jesus happens just after his special encounter with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. They returned to Jerusalem to explain the story to other disciples. They allowed Jesus to open their minds to understand the Scriptures that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations. (Lk. 24:45-48). The disciples were willing to stay with the community of believers in prayer until the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples did not expect Jesus to appear to them, and they doubted that he was a ghost. Jesus invites them to experience his resurrected and glorified body with their senses. The figure before them is flesh and bone, still bearing the marks of crucifixion. Although the disciples cannot forget his suffering and death, peace begins to take root in their hearts, as their fears turn to joy and amazement.
When Jesus appears to the disciples, he eats with them. It was an indication that Jesus continued to share the meal as a sign of their special relationship. By eating with his disciples after his Resurrection, Jesus helped them to recall all the previous meals, especially that of the Last Supper. It is also an indication of the celebration of the Eucharist. Having shared a meal with his disciples, Jesus now uncovers for them the significance of what was written about him in the Scriptures. So, too, our celebration of the Mass is an encounter with Jesus, through the Word and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. As Jesus commissions his disciples to be witnesses to what the Scriptures foretold, our celebration of the Eucharist commissions us. Like the disciples, we are sent to announce the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness of sins.
Now the disciples are relieved of their disappointment and doubt, but are in great joy after meeting Christ. There are a lot of Christian disciples in today’s world who also walk away from Jerusalem, the place of hope, and also the Christian community of believers. We should pray and work that the Lord would deliver us from all kinds of evil, sorrow, suffering, fear, and also from all forms of injustice. When the disciples overcame their initial doubt, they became men of faith and strong witnesses of Christ.
This Gospel passage also tells us that if we are walking on the roads to Emmaus, we also need purification and strengthening of our belief in God. We also make a return journey to Jerusalem, the place of the Crucified and Risen Christ. For this to happen, today we should enter into a dialogue with Jesus, listening to his Word. Jesus, in the Eucharist, at our Altar, also breaks bread for us and gives his own life. We should re-encounter the Risen Christ so that our faith life can be inflamed again with a deeper and more authentic conviction. Then, just like the disciples, we can witness the Risen Christ to our fellow human beings in our life situations every day. Let us rededicate our lives to Christ in witnessing him in our day today life.
Rev. Dr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil