Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 4, 2024

Date:   Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture Text:  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.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from Luke immediately follows the text of yesterday recounting the two disciples encountering Jesus on the road to Emmaus. In today’s reading, as the disciples are recounting their encounter in the upper room, Jesus Himself joins them. He doesn’t “appear.” He is truly there. Jesus encourages those present to inspect his wounds, to touch Him, to realize He lives. He even asks for something to eat, clearly the action of one alive.

Then Jesus reminds them of what He had told them before His passion, death, and resurrection which was too incredible for them to comprehend at the time. He ends by commissioning them to go forth in His name to proclaim His resurrection and to call people to repentance, to seek the forgiveness of their sins, in His name to all the nations.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What do I need to accept that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and lives? How will I proclaim this essential truth to others?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten and beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us and from among us to reveal your love for us and your desire that we have life in abundance. You sent your Son for our salvation. At the heart of our redemption if your love for us and for the Son as well as the Son’s love for You and for us. Send your Spirit to stir the love of You and your beloved Son within us and to hollow out room within our minds and hearts for You to dwell and to remain with us. Make of us the daughters and sons You created us to be. Make of us the disciples Christ calls us to be. Make of us your earthly temples. Make of us evangelizers of others who openly, freely, and enthusiastically proclaim your love and your desire for us all to repent and to turn to You with all our being. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.