Third Sunday of Easter
“…God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” – Acts of the Apostles 3:18-19
Imagine the scene: the disciples, still suffering such deep heartache at the horrific loss of their master and friend, suddenly see the glorified body of Jesus standing before them. Understandably, they are in awe, terrified, and speechless. What could this mean? Their minds must have been racing with a mix of excitement, confusion, and fear. And in this critical moment, Jesus’ response to their stunned silence is… “Have you anything to eat?” It almost feels like a comical anti-climax. So why does our Lord say this?
Despite Jesus’ invitation to touch him and understand that He is physically, bodily present to them, the disciples are still amazed at the sight of him, perhaps still unsure what to believe. Jesus asks for food to emphasize that He has a true human body. What an amazing relationship we have with our Lord, who desires such union with us that he has felt how it feels to be hungry! Christ then declares that the disciples are all witnesses of the Resurrection. Peter reiterates this fact in today’s first reading.
Two thousand years later, we too are witnesses of the Resurrection. We encounter and unite ourselves to Jesus every time we receive the Eucharist at Mass, where He makes Himself physically present to us. In this sacrament, our own hunger is satisfied by Jesus’ very flesh. This special bodily union with Christ requires also that we live a life of integrity. When we sin, we undergo a spiritual death, but Jesus offers us a resurrection, a forgiveness of our sins, if we repent and strive to sin no more in the hope of someday attaining perfect union with God.
How can I make an extra effort to be bodily present to Jesus (e.g. Daily Mass, spending time in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament)?
Are there any ways that Jesus is inviting me to take better care of my body so that I can recognize it as a gift and a reflection of Christ?
What Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead) can I practice?