Thursday within Easter Octave – 21st April 2022 — Gospel: Lk 24,35-48
Proof for Human Senses
Jesus opened the minds of the Apostles to understand the Scriptures, because they did not grasp the need for Jesus to die and rise again. As human beings, Jesus knew that sometimes we must experience things gradually through our human senses in order to understand them. He directs them to look at his hands and feet – the wounds of the crucifixion. The apostles had to hear him speak “peace,” touch him, see his wounds, and watch him eat before they could grasp the reality of his death and resurrection. They had to personally encounter Christ’s suffering and humanity before they could fully grasp his divinity. Finally, they accepted Jesus when He ascended to heaven. We find over and over again in the accounts of resurrection, there was a great struggle in the hearts of Jesus’ followers to believe what they saw. Almost in every encounter the apostles had some form of resistance. Jesus took no offense at their resistance or doubt. Instead, he tenderly and patiently helped them to accept his resurrected bodily presence.
