Personal encounter
9 April | Easter Thursday - Year A(II).
Luke 24:35-48
At that time: The disciples told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of grilled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then 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 the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Jesus appears to the gathered community, offering peace and commissioning. His physical presence, eating fish, confirms that the incarnate mission continues through the disciples. Understanding opens through Christ’s touch. Risen Christ commissions the frightened disciples as witnesses to all nations.
Mission requires encountering the physical Jesus, receiving peace, understanding Scripture through Him, and experiencing forgiveness. Jesus doesn’t send the confident but the bewildered—those He’s touched, taught, and transformed. Witness flows from personal encounter, not human competence.
God calls me despite lingering doubts and fears. Like the disciples, I need Jesus to stand among my confusion, speak peace, open the meaning of the Scriptures. Am I willing to witness before feeling ready? What forgiveness have I received that compels me to proclaim repentance to others?
Reflect
To what “nations” is Jesus sending me as His witness?
Prayer
Jesus, grant me Your peace and make me Your faithful witness.
Day by Day with Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia:
The work of works is to pray for holy vocations.
Saint Hannibal Mary identifies the prayer for vocations as the supreme apostolate, the work surpassing all others. This urgent intercession becomes the lifeblood of the Church, generously partnering with Christ's harvest plan, and ensuring labourers for the salvation of souls.
