Made Known

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them 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." (Luke 24:35-48)

Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.  It still happens that way, especially in communion with others.  Jesus is not made known to us through a piece of cloth called the Shroud despite what some would say, including Bishop Robert Barron as I describe in tomorrow’s blog entry about his Easter Sunday surprising sermon.  

Jesus is not a ghost without flesh and bones.  Jesus is present in the Eucharist – his flesh that we consume.  We touch and see the Eucharist.  We cannot see his hands and feet, but that is of no matter.  We are the Body of Chrost, and we put our hands and feet in service of the Lord and all those in need of compassion, forgiveness, and help for those who suffer in pain.

Deacon David Pierce