Gospel: April 4, 2024
(Thursday)
Octave of Easter, Thursday
Psalter: Proper/ (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 8: 2ab & 5, 6-7, 8-9
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name.
1st Reading: Acts 3:11-26
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst. (He said to them, “Peace to you.”) In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, but he said to them, “Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds? Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” (As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.)
Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, as they were astonished; so he said to them, “Have you anything to eat?” And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it, and ate it before them.
Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said, “So it was written: the Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
Reflection:“It is Jesus.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus again appeared to his disciples. They were terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus assured them that it is him. It is Jesus. It is Jesus who casts all our fears away. Jesus’ glorified body gives us the assurance that, no matter how troubling the situation may be, everything will eventually be in place. We only need to keep on relating well with one another. We are challenged to cultivate a relationship which is characterized by mutual love and care. It is interesting to reflect on today’s Gospel narrating Jesus eating a piece of broiled fish given by his disciples. We may recall that in the end of the Emmaus story, it was Jesus who broke the bread and gave it to the two disciples. The two disciples then were the recipients of the bread given by Jesus. Today’s Gospel implies that when he received the piece of broiled fish and ate it before his disciples Jesus was reminding them of the beauty of mutual relationship.
