Aren't
we like the apostles? We won’t believe unless we can see with our own eyes. The
Gospel accounts attest to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus from the
grave. Jesus goes to great lengths to assure his disciples that he is no mere
ghost or illusion. He shows them the marks of his crucifixion and he explains
how the Scriptures foretold his death and rising.
Jerome
(347-420 AD), an early church bible scholar, comments:
"As
he showed them real hands and a real side, he really ate with his disciples;
really walked with Cleophas; conversed with men with a real tongue; really
reclined at supper; with real hands took bread, blessed and broke it, and was
offering it to them... Do not put the power of the Lord on the level with the
tricks of magicians, so that he may appear to have been what he was not, and
may be thought to have eaten without teeth, walked without feet, broken bread
without hands, spoken without a tongue, and showed a side which had no
ribs." (From a letter to Pammachius against John of Jerusalem 34)
The
centrality of the Gospel message is the cross - but fortunately it does not
stop there. Through the cross Jesus defeated our enemies - death and Satan and
won pardon for our sins. His cross is the door to heaven and the key to
paradise. The way to glory is through the cross. When the disciples saw the
risen Lord they disbelieved for joy! How can death lead to life, the cross to victory?
Jesus shows us the way and he gives us the power to overcome sin and despair,
and everything else that would stand in the way of his love and truth. Just as
the first disciples were commissioned to bring the good news of salvation to
all the nations, so, we, too, are called to be witnesses of the resurrection of
Jesus Christ to all who live on the face of the earth. Do you witness the joy
of the Gospel to those around you?
"Lord
Jesus, open our minds to understand the Scriptures that we may fully comprehend
the truth of your word. Anoint us with your power and give us joy and boldness
to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed."
(Servants
of the word, 2018)
DATES TO REMEMBER
April
21st and 22nd First Holy Communion
Masses
• 5pm Saturday evening
• 11:30 Sunday Morning
• 2pm Sunday Afternoon
I
hope you have a great week...
Fr. Phil