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Gospel Reading for April 14, 2024 – Luke 24: 35-48
SEEMING DEFEAT
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,and how Jesus was made known to them 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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“Why are you troubled?” Jesus asked the apostles. Who would not be troubled after what happened to Jesus? It was terrible and shocking for them to see their leader, who made the dead rise, who could command the wind and the sea to obey him, and who possessed so much power, so helpless against the cruelty of those who went against him. How could that have happened? If he, with all that power was overpowered by them, how much more will it be with us? they probably thought.
After that terrible storm that happened to Jesus and his disciples, he himself calms the storm by saying: “Peace be with you.” It probably meant, “Don’t worry, I am not angry at you for running away and leaving me alone to suffer; Don’t worry, I will not hold a grudge against you. I understand and have forgiven you. As a matter of fact, you will be my witnesses and will be preaching in my name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Then, it was like the “old days” when they were eating baked fish. It was as if nothing happened, but a great thing really happened. Despite his SEEMING DEFEAT, it was this that brought Jesus to VICTORY!
Sometimes in life, we go through storms in our relationships, even with people we love. But if we are true followers of Jesus, we will allow him to calm the storm and begin anew. It will be as if nothing happened, because understanding and forgiveness will always make us VICTORIOUS against destruction.
Lord Jesus, with you, we will always be triumphant against evil!
