Reflection for April 13, Thursday in the Octave of Easter: Luke 24:35-48

Gospel: 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."

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Reflection:

Who moves and inspires us to go on when we feel spiritually/emotionally weary and tired? Of course He is no other than Jesus! During these times of weariness and tiredness we earnestly pray to the Lord and we ask Him for help and strength. And the moment we sincerely do these prayers and petitions we would feel energized as such we are very much ready again to face the many trials in our life. 

While the disciples of Jesus were feeling weary and down because they thought that Jesus had not risen. He suddenly stood in their midst and He greeted them, "Peace be with you and He said to them: “Why are you troubled?” And why do questions arise in your hearts? Jesus appeared to his followers once again to tell them that He had truly risen and that He is there for them. 

Whether we admit it or not, we are often times like the apostles of Jesus. We doubt, we feel abandoned by the Lord and we sometimes question Him. If He is really there for us and if He is really real! 

If He is there and if He is truly real then how come there are still difficult moments in our lives? In the midst of these momentary difficulties let us persevere and let us continue to have faith in Jesus. 

What does this gospel episode tells us? It tells us that we are never alone that the Risen Jesus is always by our side most especially when we pass through trials and problems. He is always there to help us and to strengthen us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas