“Called to Share in the Life of the Living Jesus” by Beth DeCristofaro
When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, "You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety? … And by faith in (Jesus’) name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you...Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus (Acts 3:12, 6, 19-20)
While they were still speaking about this, (Jesus) stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified. 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… Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:36-41, 45)
Piety
Study
In her beautiful Easter address, theologian Sr. Sandra Schneiders, IHM, explains that the resurrection stories in Scripture allows us, with the disciples, to “make the transition from the life of the pre-Easter Jesus shared by his first-century disciples (and which we read about) to the life of the actually Risen Jesus -- in which we now share. If we fail to make that transition our faith becomes merely a remembrance of things past rather than a life shared with the living Jesus in the present.”
Although she specifically speaks of the Gospel of John (20:1-9) Schneiders’ words are relevant for today’s narrative from Luke as we read of Jesus’ visit to his disciples after the journey to Emmaus. He gently shows them that their fear is baseless – look at my solid body he invites, let me eat fish with you to dispel worry of ghosts. And then he further frees them from their earthly myopia. He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Schneiders continues: “How believers, down through the ages, will experience Jesus living and acting in their midst is still to be explored and explicated in the rest of the Resurrection Narratives and down through the centuries of Christian experience. But that Jesus is alive is now revealed. As the story unfolds through history his disciples will learn that the Bread they taste in Eucharist, the Gospel they hear in Scripture, the friend, or spouse or suffering neighbor they see and touch in community and ministry -- indeed, all the sacramental experience of their life of faith -- is real contact with the living Jesus who is bodily risen in our midst. This sacramental revelation of Jesus alive in our own experience is just as real, indeed more real because no longer limited by death, as was the vision of Jesus’ pre-Easter disciples who walked the roads of Galilee with him or even his post-Easter disciples who would eat with him at Emmaus, touch his glorified wounds, receive his missioning breath, hear his commission to be and promote community as his living Body in the world.” [i]
Action
Alleluia! we pray and sing in this post-Easter season. What will that Alleluia look like as we, too, are commissioned as His people of God to go forth with the Good News? Peter reminds us of the need to repent again and turn again to Jesus. How will you promote community, build His Body today within your understanding hearts and within the environment of your day?
No comments:
Post a Comment