Peace be with you! Why are you troubled?

Readings: 1st: Acts 3:11-26; Ps: 8; Gos Lk 24:35-48

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today is the fourth octave of Easter, Christ continues to appear to his disciples. Today’s apparition is special, and casts mucho light on the real situation of Christ’s disciples after his death and Resurrección.

Apart from the fear of the Jews, another problem the disciples of Christ had was their unbelief in the resurrection of Christ. So, their major problem was their own unbelief in the words, assurance, and power of Christ.

This shows that Christians are not naïve and credulous persons who accepted everything and anything. On the contrary, they themselves had many doubts about the Resurrection of Christ. So, there is no doubt that these apparitions of Christ, were efforts to restore their faith.

Christ was keen to reassure his disciples that he is not a ghost, but the same person, though in a new state. The strongest proof of this identity are his wounds. They are signs that, the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day’.

Also, they are signs that, repentance and the forgiveness of sins are to be proclaimed to all nations in the name of Christ. So, the apparitions of Christ in today’s Gospel puts two different aspects together. The first is, the doubts of his disciples. The second is, the mission they received from Christ.

This mission is to announce the good news. That is, to be witnesses to the Resurrection, so that, the love of God which forgave and saved us will save others. Also, it is a mission to announce the forgiveness of sins.

Let us pray with Pope Francis: “that the Lord may open our minds and make us understand that he is a living reality, that he has conquered, that he is with us, and that he accompanies us on our daily journey.” Also, let us ask him for the grace to accept our mission. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!