Easter Octave - Thurs Apr 16, 2020

Bible Text: “Why are you frightened look at my hands and my feet, see that it is I myself, for the ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have”. Luke 24.35-48

At this point in time, the disciples could not yet believe that what they were seeing is indeed real. Perhaps they were still in the state of shock and hallucination. They were speechless and had no clue at all what was going on around with all these various apparitions of risen Lord before them. Jesus in the gospel would like to help His disciples recover from illusion to reality. This is the very purpose why Jesus told them about both the bad and good experience that He had undergone. Look at my hands and my feet. The Lord would like to remind them about the reality of life. Jesus apparently would like to tell them, don’t forget my wounds and my suffering. This is what life is all about. If you would believe that I have risen from the dead, do not only focus yourself to my victory and beauty of life, you have to include as well my suffering and death.

We too must not be deceived. He is also reminding us about the two contrasting realities of life. In real life, there is sickness and health; we experience both loneliness and happiness; poverty and abundance; anxiety and serenity; woundedness and healing; sinfulness and holiness; death and life. We should not lose hope because both are essential part of living. However in the life of Jesus Christ, He made use of the bitter condition as path to sweeter situation. This is an important teaching of our faith. We should never fall into deception that life is never be free from hostility. Be reminded that those in heaven are those who were tested by fire. Those in heaven are washed by the blood of the Lamb. Keep in mind that dying is not only an essential part of living but it is that way that will surely lead to life.

This is indeed the meaning of the Holy Eucharist. Now that we are in the midst of this situation, may this be an opportunity to imitate Jesus. We have to accept death so that we can be one with Jesus in his resurrection.