April 14 2024: Bible Verse of the Day – Third Sunday of Easter Year B, Thursday in the Octave of Easter – Jesus Meets His Disciples after His Resurrection – Luke 24:35-48
39 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.”
40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of baked fish;
43 he took it and ate it in front of them. – Luke 24:35-48
Catholic Readings for Today
Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Third Sunday of Easter, Year B
Today’s Bible Verse of the Day Reflections
This passage highlights the reality of the resurrection, the fulfilment of prophecy, the importance of understanding Scripture, the role of the disciples in spreading the Gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
These teachings continue to be relevant and important for Christians today. Here’s a brief highlight of each.
The fulfilment of prophecy: Jesus explains to his disciples that his death and resurrection were foretold in the Scriptures.
He quotes from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms to show how his life and mission fulfilled these prophecies.
The importance of understanding Scripture: Jesus emphasizes the importance of understanding Scripture and how it relates to his life and mission.
He opens the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures, which helps them to recognize him as the promised Messiah.
The role of the disciples in spreading the Gospel: Jesus commissions his disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations.
He tells them that they are witnesses to these things and that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out this mission.
The power of the Holy Spirit: Jesus tells his disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. This power will enable them to be his witnesses and to carry out the mission he has given them.
The reality of the resurrection: In this passage, Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection, demonstrating the reality of his victory over death.
He shows them his wounds and eats with them to prove that he is not a ghost or spirit but a real, resurrected person, and they were filled with “Incredulous for joy!”
The exclamation “Incredulous for joy!” effectively captures the disciples’ response to Jesus, who they were uncertain about accepting. Their reaction denotes a hesitance to trust their senses and fully believe in what they were experiencing.
The disciples were presented with a surreal sight – Jesus, who they had witnessed being crucified, was now standing in front of them with visible wounds on his hands and feet.
Despite his presence and interaction with them, the disciples were caught in a state of shock, disbelief, and uncertainty about what they were witnessing. Jesus even asked for food, adding to the astonishment of the disciples.
The phrase “incredulous for joy” suggests that the disciples were on the brink of experiencing overwhelming happiness, but their doubts and disbelief held them back.
Despite their hesitation, they were eager to embrace the possibility that Jesus had indeed conquered death and had returned to them.
The idea that their beloved leader was alive and present before them was almost too good to be true, causing them to feel a mix of disbelief and joy.
The disciples’ reaction can serve as a reflection of our own experience when God invites us to draw closer to His glory and grace.
We may find ourselves hesitant, just like the disciples, when God invites us to experience the joy of His Resurrection.
It can be challenging for us to fully embrace and accept the reality of the Resurrection in our own lives, despite God’s invitation to do so.
However, just like the disciples, we too can learn to trust in God and overcome our doubts and fears, allowing ourselves to fully experience the joy and grace that God has to offer.
There are various reasons why we may struggle to accept the Resurrection, and one of them is feeling discouraged.
The disciples, who were profoundly disheartened by Jesus’ death, serve as an example of this. Even when Jesus appeared before them after rising from the dead, they were still hesitant to release the discouragement that had taken hold of them.
Likewise, we can be prone to feeling weighed down by the burdens of the world, our own wrongdoing, or the wrongdoing of others.
This can lead to feelings of anger and frustration, causing us to dwell on the apparent problems we encounter.
However, embracing the joy of the Resurrection entails redirecting our focus away from those concerns and instead centering our attention on the realities that God desires us to prioritize.
Becoming disheartened by the various challenges that we encounter is unproductive. Rather, our Lord consistently urges us to shift our focus towards something greater, specifically His triumph.
Gazing upon His triumph is liberating and generates a remarkable sense of faith within us. This faith in the Resurrected Lord yields a remarkable joy that God desires us to experience.
Today, take a moment to consider your own response to the truth of the Resurrection of our Lord. Dedicate some time to contemplate the Resurrected Lord, examining His triumph and His splendor.
Observe how He invites you to cultivate a profound faith in Him. By keeping your focus on Him, all other factors that might lead you to despair will gradually vanish.
Let us pray: My Lord, I desire to behold You. I yearn to witness Your magnificence and majesty.
I aspire to witness Your resurrection and take great joy and satisfaction in this truth.
Please, dear Lord, assist me in experiencing the incredible joy that comes from knowing You, our Lord and Savior, who has conquered death. Amen
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