Reflection for Thursday of Easter Octave

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar 

Reading of Today's WORD of GOD 

Luke 24: 35 - 48 

It is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead

The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.

They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.

Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’


Reflection on the readings 

Peter’s Easter Understanding

Peter Saw how JESUS made Visible & Tangible All that the Jews had Hoped, over Many Centuries. According to Him, All the Prophets Pre-Announced the Death & Resurrection of JESUS. He Echoes what Our LORD Said on the Evening of Easter Day, that Everything Written about HIM in Scripture had to be Fulfilled. 

The Underlying Belief is that GOD'S Plans are thoroughly Enmeshed in Human Existence, & are Being Carried Out Across the Sweep of History. Generations of People have Found Their Hopes Sustained, Their Trials Overcome, Their Laws & Habits Purified, Under the Influence of GOD'S Prompting SPIRIT. We in Turn Ought to Share This Understanding with Our Own Generation.

In a Forgiving Spirit, Peter Says that the People who Rejected JESUS Acted Out of Ignorance. It is Easier for Us to Admit that Our Lives are Guided by Providence than to Accept that Our Behaviour can Sometimes Include Ignorance & Malice. 

But if We are Honest, Our Past Failings & Those of Our CHURCH must be Admitted & Healed, Not Ignored. In Our CHURCH'S Recent Past, how much Harm was Done by Misguided Attempts to Cover Up Wrongdoing, rather than Dealing with It. 

As St. Peter says, GOD will Not Condemn Us for what We Never Intended to Do. HE Asks Us to be Peaceful & Trustful in the Face of Events that are Beyond Our Control. 

The Scriptures Tell Us that the Redemption of the World was Achieved by JESUS in spite of the Ignorance & Injustice of Those who Rejected HIM. GOD can Indeed Write Straight, even with Crooked Lines!

Many People Struggle to take in the Good News of Easter, to Really Believe It. They Find It Easier to Identify with the Passion than with the Resurrection. 

We can Easily Connect with the Suffering of JESUS because We have Experienced Some Suffering Ourselves. Like the Disciples We Stand Before the Good News of Easter, Struggling to Believe. 

We Need Time to Recognise that the Risen LORD is indeed Among Us, Saying to Us what HE Said to HIS Disciples, “Peace be with U.” HE Offers Us that Special Peace of Mind & heart which is Put into Our Hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT. 

As We Receive This Gift of HIS Love HE Sends Us Out as Agents of Forgiveness, as Peacemakers, just as HE Sent Out the Disciples in the Gospel.


Good Morning 

GOD Bless Us All Today Alleluia! 

Let's pray for the forthcoming state Elections to be free fair and credible.