Third Sunday After Easter, Year B 2023 – 24: Gospel Passage – The expectations & understanding of what it means to be in relationship with the Divine

“While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36b)

This passage comes right after one of my favorite post-Easter stories about the two travelers on the road to Emmaus, where Jesus met them on the road and traveled with them explaining the passages pertaining to his death and resurrection. He then revealed himself to them (they did not know before it was their risen Teacher & Savior). Stunned, they returned to Jerusalem to tell the others of their encounter.

“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.” (Verses 37 – 40)

Being crucified left very distinctive & identifiable scars on his body, so it was easy to see that his flesh still held the marks and that their being healed over proved his being alive.

“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.” (Verses 41 – 43)

Jesus and the Divine are accommodating to those who wish to believe but still need a gentle nudge to fasten on to faith. Or at least it was so among those who had first hand knowledge of Jesus. I think of Thomas whose doubts were swept away, and Peter who restored to faith and given charge over the “flock” of disciples, and Paul who had his eyes open to the reality of Jesus and the Lord God. I am pretty sure, beloved reader, that you can think of times that the Divine and the Holy Presence gave you the tools you needed to affirm and confirm your belief.

“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.” (Verses 44 – 48)

I try to imagine what it must have been like to be given all of that information and understanding at once. For myself, it took years to learn the scope of the the bible, the ins & outs of the Old Testament and New Testament. The surface meaning and then the underlying & hidden meaning. And then how to apply that to every day life, and integrate that with daily life. This is not “head” knowledge & earthly wisdom; this is the “wisdom” that Paul talks about as being the “foolishness” of the Divine. An understanding that seemingly has no place in ordinary life, but is the literal saving grace for those who believe. Maturing in faith and spirituality is perceiving and then setting aside what is in human daily life that contradicts with the words the Jesus spoke and the “everything” that was revealed by Jesus. And yes, it probably takes a good part of a lifetime to do that. May Jesus our Lord and the Holy Presence therefore guide your life journey. Shalom & Selah!