14 April, 2024 | 3rd Sunday of Easter

 Reading : Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 | Reading 2: 1 Jn 2:1-5a

Gospel Lk 24:35-48

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."

Reflections: 

"Why are you troubled? And why are there questions in your hearts? These are the very common and popular questions that Jesus asks in the Gospel.  It also says that the apostles were "startled and frightened" when Jesus appeared out of nowhere - and Jesus said "peace be with you" to calm their fears. Here God shows Himself again and reminds us that, as it is written, He will return as a risen Lord. Troubled hearts must not remain in any of us. God assures us that our sins have been forgiven through his crucifixion. So let us be at peace, let us commit ourselves to trusting the Lord, and let us rejoice and be glad in his resurrection. 

Action: 

Free your heart from all worry and anxiety by surrendering to the Lord.