Since the first day of Paschal Octave (Resurrection Sunday), we have read and reflected on the empty tomb scene through different Gospel accounts (Mark 16:1-7 (Vigil);John 20:1-9; Matthew 28:8-15; John 20:11-18) and how Peter enthusiastically spoke of Christ as he was transformed through Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Acts 2:14, 22-33; Acts 2:36-41). From the fourth day of Paschal Octave (Wednesday of Paschal Octave) on, we move away from the empty tomb in encountering the risen Christ in the Gospel Readings, and it is no longer just Peter but John and other disciples who carry on the work of the Good News started by Jesus through the First Readings from the Acts of the Apostles.
So, it is important to recognize this shift in
Paschal Octave Scripture readings.
Mary Magdalene and other women came to the tomb of
Jesus and found it empty. They came to the tomb to look for the dead. That is
why Mary Magdalene did not recognize risen Jesus even though he was standing
right by her upon looking into the empty tomb. She recognized him when he
called her by name.
Now, moving from the empty tomb, today’s Gospel Reading
(Luke 24:13-35) reflects the omnipresence of risen Jesus and how slow it was
for the two disciples to recognize risen Jesus in spite of the very presence of
him in their company.
It was when Cleopas and another disciple were
walking away from Jerusalem, heading to Emmaus during the day time of the very
day of the Resurrection, when risen Jesus enjoined them on their journey. When
risen Jesus appeared to them, these disciples did not recognize him as risen
Jesus. They thought he was one of these visitors who knew nothing about what
had happened to Jesus. And, as he came to them, they were talking about him,
not realizing that he was the one, whom they were talking about.
Why these two disciples did not recognize the very
person, joining in their journey to Emmaus was the very risen Jesus, whom they
were talking about? What prevented them from recognizing then?
The fact that they were unable to recognize risen
Jesus when he appeared is juxtaposed to the fact that Mary Magdalene did not
recognize risen Jesus when he was standing right by her at the entrance of the
tomb.
What prevented these two disciples and Mary
Magdalene from recognizing the very physical presence of risen Jesus was their
heavy grief and their mindset that Jesus was dead as if he were dead forever.
That is why Mary Magdalene came to his tomb to look for his corpse, perhaps, to
put more myrrh on. And, Cleopas and the other disciple had heard about the
empty tomb from Mary Magdalene, as well as, Peter and John, who verified it.
But, they did not really realize and believe that the tomb was empty because
Jesus was risen.
At first, these two disciples treated risen Jesus as
if he knew nothing about Jesus’ death. So, they started giving “lecture” on
what they knew about Jesus of Nazarene, recognizing him as a prophet mighty in
deed and word before God and all the people, about how he was treated by
religious leaders and the Roman governor to be crucified and how they learned
that his tomb was empty. They also told him that they were hoping that this Jesus
the crucified and dead prophet would redeem Israel. They also indicated to him
that their hope for Jesus to bring Israel from the Roman occupation began to
fizzle as it had been three days since his death (Luke 24:20-24).
This shows that these two disciples’ faith in Jesus was rather lukewarm. Though they knew enough about who Jesus was, they really did not understand and believe who he really is.
Aren’t many of us like them?
We know just enough about Jesus. So, we say we are
Christians. But, do we really recognize risen Jesus whenever and wherever he
appears to us and is with us in our midst? Do we really recognize him in the
Sacrament of the Eucharist? Do we really encounter him in the Word as we engage
with our Sacred Scriptures?
Jesus sure does not like the lukewarmness of our
faith (Revelation 3:16; Diary of St. Faustina, 1702). So, risen Jesus needed to
heat these disciples’ souls up by interpreting the Scriptures for them (Luke
24:25-27), saying to them:
Oh,
how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
(Luke 24:25).
Then, the two disciples and rise Jesus came near to
Emmaus, as sundown was nearing. So, they invited Jesus to stay the night with
them. And Jesus accepted their invitation.
It was when risen Jesus took bread, said the
blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them, the disciple’s eyes opened to
recognize that the man, who was with them and explained the Scriptures on the
Messianic prophesies on Jesus, was risen Jesus (Luke 24:30). At that moment,
risen Jesus vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31), but their hearts were on
fire (Luke 24:32).
The two disciples did not cling to their rejoicing
and excitement mood, just as risen Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to cling to
him though he understood her joy over recognizing his resurrection (John
20:17).
So, with their hearts on fire, the two disciples ran
back to Jerusalem, where the rest of the disciples were (Luke 24:33).
Luke says that the disciples said that risen Jesus
appeared to Peter alone (Luke 24:34), suggesting that he appeared to Peter
while he was also with, walking and talking together. This means that risen
Jesus is omnipresent, showing more of his divinity than humanity, upon the
resurrection.
Today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 24:13-35) reflects that
risen Jesus can appear anywhere and anytime simultaneously, as he appeared to
Peter in Jerusalem when appearing to Cleopas and another disciples as they were
moving from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
Also, we learn from this Gospel text that risen
Jesus appear to raise the temperature of lukewarm souls – souls that believe
but the temperature of faith has become lukewarm and getting colder after the
death of Jesus, souls in danger of apostasy. Risen Jesus did this by going over
himself, the Word (John 1:1, 14), explaining the Scriptures. The risen Word
incarnate – risen Christ explaining himself, the Word in the Scriptures to
raise the temperature of the souls of Cleopas and the other disciples on the
way to Emmaus. Then, as their souls’ temperature was warm enough, they easily
caught fire when the risen Word incarnate showed himself in the breaking of the
bread, as it was the very flesh of the living Word incarnate for eternal life
(John 1:1, 14; 6:35-58).
Risen Jesus both in the Word and in the Living Bread
of Life in the Eucharist, reflected in today’s Lucan resurrection narrative
(Luke 24:13-35)! And, this the Word-Bread sequence also reflect the flow of
Mass. First, the Liturgy of the Word, then the Liturgy of the Eucharist, for us
to fully encounter the risen Christ at Mass.
Now, in regard to today’s First Reading (Acts 3:1-10),
there is a shift from the First Readings from Resurrection Sunday until
yesterday.
We read how Peter, after Pentecost, filled with and
empowered by the Holy Spirit, spoke so passionately about Jesus and how his
speeches on Jesus had affected his audiences – netting 3,000 to the nascent
Church and bringing Cornelius and his entire house hold to the growing Church.
In today’s First Reading, we see not only Peter but
also John, impacting those who rejected Jesus, not just by preaching on Jesus
and his teaching but by healing as Jesus himself did.
The death and the resurrection of Christ leads us to
expand the works of Christ upon his departure in ascension (John 14:12),
empowered by the Holy Spirit upon Pentecost (Acts 1:8). So, in today’s Gospel
Reading (Acts 3:1-10), after Peter’s Pentecost day speech on Jesus brought
3,000 people to the Church, Peter healed instantly a man born paralyzed, with
John’s accompaniment.
At first, this paralyzed man thought that Peter and
John would give him money out of pity. But, Peter and John looked at him
intently, and Peter said:
Look
at us. I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the
name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk”
(Act 3:4, 6).
Then, Peter took the paralyzed man up by the right
hand in raising him up, resulting in immediate healing of the man (Acts 3:7).
And, this healing act of Peter by the beautiful gate
of the Temple is a juxtaposition to Jesus’ healing act to a man paralyzed for
38 years by the sheep gate of the Temple (John 5:1-9), which is known as the
third miraculous sign of Jesus. In this instance, Jesus commanded the man, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8).
Though Jesus healed a paralyzed man instantly
without touching him but only by his Word, Peter had to touch and raise a
paralyzed man up. Nevertheless, Peter did it on behalf of Jesus, by invoking
the powerful name of Jesus in commanding as Jesus did to walk.
Because Jesus died in place of us and was raised
from the dead, we have been saved. And as we recognize and encounter risen
Jesus, who is omnipresent, our souls are no longer lukewarm and our hearts keep
burning. And, upon risen Jesus’ ascension back to the Father in heaven, the
fire burning in our hearts bursts into greater flames by the Holy Spirit on
Pentecost so that we can be like Peter doing mighty act of teaching the Word
and doing miraculous healing works, together with other brothers and sisters in
risen Christ.
Remember, our encounter with risen Jesus during
Paschaltide shall prepare us for our mission on Pentecost as we are to carry on
the works of Jesus in his mighty name.
Cleopas and the other disciples cancelled whatever the
plan they had in Emmaus as they were on mission to share the Good News of
encountering the risen Christ with their fellow disciples in Jerusalem. Peter’s
mission upon Pentecost continued on, expanding from preaching to healing, now
accompanied by John.
We are now half way through Paschal Octave. As we continue to read and reflect on the
Paschaltide Scripture readings, we prepare ourselves for our respective
missions, while raising the faith temperature of our souls, while our hearts
burning and burning.
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