Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24, 35-48
The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way,
and how they had come to recognize him 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.”
The breaking of bread
1. The Bread. Every time you go to Mass you recognize that Jesus is alive; you’re living the mystery of faith. At this point, I want to emphasize how important it is to participate in the Eucharist. Beyond simply receiving Communion, it’s an encounter with the Risen Lord; it’s discovering that we are brothers or sisters through Jesus, who is present in the bread. Regardless of the priest celebrating the Mass, whether it is long or short, or whether it’s in a chapel or a cathedral, the Eucharist has its own power for you to receive and recognize Him. The Eucharist, which we have celebrated for more than 2,000 years, reminds us of where we come from and where we are going; it’s the heart of Christian life.
2. Fear. Fear is something we all experience, especially when we encounter new situations. Life constantly requires us to make choices and confront the things that scare us. Fear is always there, challenging us daily, but we can overcome it through faith and humility. Don’t let fear control you; instead, turn your eyes to Jesus, who brings comfort and eases every worry and hardship. Strive for the peace that soothes your fears and seek out what brings you calm, so you can find the strength within yourself.
3. Witnesses. Turn to Jesus, the one who gives peace, and let Him strengthen you in the face of life’s problems and challenges. Life isn’t always smooth, and faith doesn’t mean you’ll never struggle or feel weak. Instead, faith provides an extra source of support, helping you to overcome the difficulties that touch your heart, even when you feel vulnerable. Take courage! To be a witness is to be a living testimony of what God has done, or is doing, in your life.
Remember that something good is on the way!
The Lord bless you and guard in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
