Third Sunday of Easter

04-15-2018Weekly Reflection©2018 Liturgical Publications, Inc.

"Why do questions arise in your hearts?" After the Resurrection, the Apostles experienced their fair share of incredulity. Jesus had died-John had been there-and now the tomb was empty. What should they believe? Was the Jesus before them truly real? And who was Jesus really? It's no surprise that the Apostles were initially "startled and terrified" to the extent that they "thought that they were seeing a ghost." Jesus has compassion on his confused friends. Once he affirms his non-ghostly identity--"look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself"--Jesus gets down to business.

He has risen from the dead, but life would not continue as normal. Throughout Jesus' ministry, he spoke in parables and veiled prophetic language. His followers likely thought much of his words were metaphors, some symbolism for the person and their relation to God. Now Jesus has something else in mind. He "opened their minds to understand the scriptures," making known the connections between his own words and deeds and "everything written about [him] in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms."

Why now? Why this increased depth of understanding? The answer lies in the shifting role of the Apostles. "You are witnesses of these things." The treasury of truth is no longer Jesus' responsibility alone but our own. Then and there, the Apostles are appointed to proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins and the mercy of God. This message is no longer for only the Jewish people but "all the nations."

This is our invitation! We have the rich heritage of the Church's teaching. By sacramental grace, God's "peace" is "with [us]." We, too, are sent to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and the hope that belongs to his call.

Cada año, los tres primeros domingos del Tiempo de Pascua el Evangelio trata de las apariciones de Jesús resucitado a sus discípulos. Hoy a pesar de estar en el ciclo B que es propio de San Marcos la lectura es tomada de Lucas y es continuación del relato de Emaús. Fijémonos, en los acontecimientos y la forma evangelizadora del Señor. Saludo de paz, el susto y el miedo de los presentes es notorio, las dudas de algunos de ellos, el soplo del espíritu, la misión confiada y llevar la Buena Nueva a todos. La misión entonces y ahora es: ser testigos de su resurrección. Todos los elementos dados ayudan a entender el Misterio Pascual. Nuestra oración debe ser pedirle con fervor al Señor que nos ayude a abrir el entendimiento, para que como nos dice el Papa Francisco de verdad ser auténticos discípulos misioneros de Jesucristo.

Reflexionemos, en el siguiente pasaje de la Sagrada Escritura. "Entonces les abrió la mente para que entendieran las Escrituras, les dijo: los padecimientos del Mesías y su resurrección de entre los muertos al tercer día". (Lucas 24:45). ¡Que concreto es Jesús en guiar a sus discípulos en la experiencia de su resurrección! En este pasaje busca a sus discípulos en el lugar concreto, les invita a toquen su cuerpo resucitado, come con ellos pescado asado y una porción de miel. Les pregunta el porqué se desconciertan. En el hoy de la Iglesia y como bautizado. ¿Qué te desconcierta de Jesús? ¿Comprendes el porqué de sus actitudes? El viene a nosotros en el lugar que nos encontramos, el nos toca con su perdón y nos invita a su mesa en la Eucaristía. ¡Aleluya!

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