Thursday in the Octave of Easter (April 5, 2018): Need a miracle?

Thứ Tư, 04-04-2018 | 15:00:39

Today’s Readings:

Acts 3:11-26
Ps 8:2ab, 5-9
Luke 24:35-48
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040518.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_04_05.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

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.”

Good News Reflection: Need a miracle?

The story in today’s first reading reminds me of the time my parish received a visit from a mission priest who was advertised as a healer. Although his teachings did not focus on supernatural healings, the people did. They came in droves for miracles, and although miracles did occur, the greatest healings were those that happened inside of hearts and minds and souls. The man’s reputation as a “healing priest” drew them in, but those who listened attentively discovered Jesus.

Peter said, “Why are you fascinated by this miracle, and why do you look at us as if we made this man walk by our own power or piety?” Then he refocused them on the Whobehind the miracle. The people did not initially understand — they crowded around Peter and John because they wanted to see more miracles; what they got was a message of truth about Jesus.

In the Gospel reading, I wonder why the disciples still thought Jesus was only a ghost, even though the women had reported seeing Jesus alive, and even though Peter and John had witnessed the empty tomb. They did not initially understand what Jesus had foretold about rising from the dead. Jesus had to explain it to them again, from the Easter side of his death. After seeing the miracle in front of their faces (Jesus proved he was alive by munching on some fish), they finally started to grasp his message.

Why is it that we don’t see our risen Lord everywhere and in everything until we understand the message that he’s trying to convey?

To be honest, it’s because we’re looking at the resurrection the wrong way: “What’s in it for me? How does this bless my life?” Spiritual truths are impossible to understand when we limit them to a self-centered view. We grasp the true message when we realize: “What’s in it for God? If he’s blessed, I will be blessed, too, and others besides!”

Remember, Jesus didn’t rise from the dead for his own sake, for the same reason he didn’t die for his own sake. His victory over our sins and then his victory over death blessed the Father and the whole world too.

What don’t you understand? This is where you still need an outward-focused resurrection experience.

The resurrection becomes real in our everyday lives when we stop the selfish thinking of “What’s in it for me?” and start looking at how our crosses can glorify God and benefit other people.

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord: Give me the grace of recognizing Your Real Presence in the Eucharist. Forgive me for living enclosed in my worries without going to You, the living Bread from Heaven. Amen.

Tags: Good News Reflection, Holy Gospel according to Luke., Octave of Easter