Thoughts for the Day

Then Cleopas and the other disciple told the disciples what had happened on the road, and how Jesus had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost 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. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The Nicene Creed, which Anglicans, non-conformist churches, as well as Roman Catholics all subscribe to and which underlines our basic Christian beliefs, states that:

• "We believe...in one Lord Jesus Christ...who suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures..."

Catholics also teach in the Catechism that "The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of the Christian faith in Christ."

The Resurrection is central to our faith because if Christ did not rise from the dead then our faith is useless, and our hope of salvation is a vain hope.

We have seen how Jesus appears and disappears since his Resurrection, and sometimes he is not recognised initially. He is not quite the same as we can see in the first meeting with ten of the disciples. Those who deny the resurrection believe Jesus was a spiritual being until his ascension into Heaven. But today's story like that on the road to Emmaus says otherwise. Jesus is happy to be 'handled', they look at the scarred hands and feet, they feel his flesh and bones, and then he eats some 'broiled fish'. Jesus is no ghost!

Again, Jesus teaches them what has happened. He tells them that they are to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name, first to Jerusalem and then 'to all nations'. We are inheritors of this "Go tell" message - that Christ Jesus died and rose again for our sins!

Lord Jesus Christ,
we believe that You rose from the dead,
but help us when our faith falls short.
Revive our flagging spirits,
and help us to see that You were no spirit,
but a real corporeal being.
Teach us about how You have saved us,
and help us to tell others of the good news.
Amen.