Luke 24:36b-48
36 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 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.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 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, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
A ghost or a real human?
It is beyond human understanding to believe that God put on flesh. It's more difficult is to believe that this incarnated Son of God was crucified and buried. It's even more difficult to believe that He was risen on the third day and is still alive!
We have already seen the disciples afraid and taking Jesus for a ghost when they were in Galilee and their boat was about to sink in the violent storm. "When they saw Him walking on the water, they were absolutely terrified. But Jesus at once spoke to them, 'It is I myself; don't be afraid!'" Mark 6:49-50.
While the disciples are in a closed room, after His Resurrection He stands among them and they think He is among the dead. That explains how and why they are terrified. They see Him introducing Himself to them as The Peace that erradicates fear and doubt, irradiating serenity and courage into their hearts.
He is the living Christ in flesh and bones asking for something to eat to reassure them that He is Jesus whom they have known for three years. As we know, Jesus always goes further, deeper and higher! He entrusts to them the duty of proclaiming His love for all humanity, this love that includes "the proclamation of the change of heart that leads to the forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" Luke 24:47.
Let's have a few minutes of reflection. Delve deeper into this event and see where we are with the living Christ, not the ghost, and how to cast off all fear and doubt. The living Christ can illuminate serenity and courage into your heart. Carry the torch of witness for the forgiveness of humanity's sins. Return to peace with God, with oneself and with your neighbor, starting from Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth!
Who is Jesus for me today, a ghost or real, living and present with me and for me?
"Don't be afraid" Alleluia!