PEACE IN OUR HEARTS: 04/13/24 (Third Sunday of Easter)

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Gospel

Lk 24:35-48

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."

 

Reflection:

 

Amid the disciples' meeting, Jesus appeared and gave them peace. Jesus had a different form after His resurrection. There was no need to open the door. He could go wherever He desired to go. Jesus proved once again that He’s alive with bones and flesh. He is not a figment of imagination or hallucination. Jesus was truly alive. In our lives, there may be many hardships that seem to have no good outcome in our perspective. But, as we continuously believe in Jesus, His resurrection remains proof that any suffering we endure will eventually bear good fruit if we remain in prayer.

 

Jesus explained to His disciples that the Messiah must suffer and die to save us and atone for our sins. In the same way, we did not come into the world just to enjoy things. We have a unique mission as Christians or followers of Christ, and that is to proclaim the Good News in word and deed. These works and missions remind us that this is not our permanent home. Our mission is to return to the Father in Heaven through Jesus and to bring our brothers and sisters back to God. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ not just because of blood. The way to obtain the treasures in Heaven is through sacrifice and good deeds for others on Earth.

 

If we accept and believe this as the reality of our lives, we will have interior peace and security amidst every trial. This is also because we believe that all sufferings here will eventually end. The joy that will never end in Heaven will be ours if we remain good here on Earth until the end, even if the world and other people are wicked. If we sin and make mistakes, it is important to always seek forgiveness from God through the sacrament of confession and start anew, just as Jesus’s disciples who had weaknesses and sinned against Him when they first followed Him. God's mercy is everlasting if we desire to change.

 

May we believe and continuously ponder on this. Amen. + 

 

May our Loving and Almighty God bless us, and may He defend us against temptations and evil now and forever. Amen. +

 

Reflection by: FMMJ

Translation by: CJTH

 

Source:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041424.cfm 

 

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

 

Website on how to raise and guard children in their Catholic faith:

https://howtokeepyourkidscatholic.com/

 

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

 

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth