3rd Sunday of Easter, April 15, 2018 Year B

In this t Eucharist, may the Lord endow you with the graces you need to obey him spontaneously so that your life and action will bear veritable witness to the risen Lord. Happy Sunday +John I. Okoye

DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Acts 4,13-15.15-19; 1 John 2, 1-5;  Luke 24, 35-48: 3rd  Sunday of Easter, April 15, 2018  Year B)

The episode which is narrated in the gospel reading happened on the evening of Easter. Jesus’ apostles and disciples assembled with Peter and were discussing among themselves what happened on that day: the tomb that was discovered empty by Mary Magdalene, Peter and John who ran to the tomb, the women were saying that they had a vision of angels who affirmed that Jesus was alive, the apparition of the Risen Lord to Simon, the testimony of the two men on their way to Emmaus indicating that they encountered Jesus on the way and recognised him at the breaking of the bread. And as they were discussing these events, Jesus appeared to them. The Evangelist Luke described very well the apostles and the disciples state of mind: they were alarmed and frightened, agitated, doubtful, felt great joy, but they were still unable to believe what their eyes were seeing and they were dumbfounded. Their state of mind can be compared to that of someone who suddenly discovered a joyous thing that is, at the same time, so extraordinarily incredible; exactly what the resurrection of Jesus is. Jesus said to them: Peace be with you (John 19,21). This is not just a wish, an  augury or pure desire. The Risen Lord brought with him peace, his own peace which is the fullness of spiritual goods and  bestows on his friends.

Jesus rebukes them for having doubts. He then attempts to dispel two of these doubts by showing that it is really he and that he has a real body. He calls their attention to the marks of the nails in his hands and feet. Yes, it is really the same person whom they had known before, the one who was crucified and died on the cross. He next invites them to touch him in order to realise his corporeal nature. He is not a ghost; his body is real. They still do not believe, but now they are overwhelmed with joy and wonder rather than fear and terror. The final demonstration of his corporeal reality is his eating of a piece of cooked fish. His eating of the fish is to convince them of his bodily presence. But why was Jesus so insistent on the realism of his corporeal resurrection? This is because, from the biblical point of view, the body is created by God and man is not complete if he is not a union of body and soul. Therefore, Jesus’ victory over death does not consists in his remaining united with God with his immortal soul but in receiving his body again united to his soul in an existence that, obviously, is very diverse from our earthly existence. In this way the victory of Jesus is truly complete: Jesus is risen body and soul. If the apostles and disciples would be so convinced of his corporeal resurrection and cease regarding him as a ghost, they could then become witnesses of the resurrection. 

Having assured the disciples of his bodily resurrection, Jesus proceeds to explain his suffering and death by turning to the Scriptures. Once again he asserts that he is the same Jesus who was their companion before the crucifixion. He does this by reminding them of what he told them earlier. He maintains that all three of the major parts of the bible, namely the Law (Moses), the Prophets and Writings (Psalms), contain traditions that he fulfils. Their eyes have beheld the Risen Lord. Now their minds are opened to the profound meaning of their religious tradition. Jesus shows them how his own story fulfils the story found in the Scriptures.

His speech and explanations had the scope of turning them witnesses of the resurrection. With them, we, Jesus’ contemporary disciples are to be witnesses of the resurrection by preaching the good news of God’s forgiveness to all nations.  Faith in the Risen Lord should make us more persuasive and leads to the joyous proclamation of the good news. We can but be affected if we realise that the Risen Lord is alive and present in our midst, here and now, and wants to bestow his peace on us. As Easter people who have recognised the Risen Christ in his body and soul may we, like the people addressed in the second reading, be spontaneous in obeying the commandment of love. In order to do this, we have to have an experiential knowledge of God, a knowledge that results in a relationship with God. To know God is to keep the commandments; to keep God’s word is to live in God’s love. Therefore, one can say: to know God is to love God, and both knowledge and love of God manifest in obedience to God’s commandments. Our recognition of the Risen Christ will make us follow the footsteps of the people to whom Peter addressed his speech in the first reading in leading reformed lives. In his speech, while he blames his hearers for the death of Jesus , he also acquits them of the guilt that accompanies the deed, ascribing their offence to ignorance. But as a result of his pastoral strategy and preaching of the good news, they now know better, and Peter enjoins them: Now you must repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. Therefore, without conversion from our sins and total transformation of our lives, we would not be veritable witnesses to the Risen Christ. Happy Sunday! +John Okoye 

(graphics by chukwubike)