19.— The Words of Jesus to His Apostles.

The Words of Jesus to His Apostles.

Read St. Luke xxiv.  38-45.

[38] And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? [39] See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have. [40] And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and feet.

[41] But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, he said: Have you any thing to eat? [42] And they offered him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb. [43] And when he had eaten before them, taking the remains, he gave to them. [44] And he said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

1.  Jesus does not like to see His friends in fear, and troubled at His presence, on the very day of His resurrection; and with cheering words He hastens to re-assure them: “Peace be to you: it is I; fear not.  Why are you troubled?  See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself.”  He seems almost pained at their inability to realize that it is He Himself.  How He desires confidence from us!  That we should recognize Him, trust Him, feel at home with Him.  He does not like us to be afraid of Him: He likes to be treated by us with a sort of reverent familiarity as our dearest Friend, our Brother, the Lover of our souls.

2.  How soothing His words are: “Peace be to you!”  This is His first greeting to His apostles after He has fought the battle and conquered.  He knew the necessity of peace as an element, or rather as the foundation, of holiness.  The troubled soul cannot reflect the image of God.  As long as there is strife within, we shall never overcome our enemies or do good service to the Captain of our salvation.  Pray then for peace.  Dona nobis pacem!  Give us true peace.  Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. 

3.  What He especially desired to impress upon them was that He was the same Jesus who had been their companion during the three years of His ministry, and who had been scourged and crucified.  They seemed to imagine He was a different Being, and that now He would lose all sympathy with them.  Is not this often our danger?  We scarcely believe that Jesus in heaven has the same compassionate, gentle heart as when He was on earth.

 


This article, 19.— The Words of Jesus to His Apostles. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/devotional/the-catholic-daily/resurrection-ascension-jesus-christ/19-words-jesus-apostles/
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