Luke 24: 35-48 Appearance of Risen Jesus to the Disciples (Gospel for April 30, 2006)

(Co authored by Aileen M. and TM)

Observation:

This passage is right after the incident of the two disciples and Jesus, along the road to Emmaus. In that incident, the two disciples did not recognize Jesus initially, and only identified him during the breaking of the bread, and when Jesus quoted Scriptures. In this gospel passage, Luke once AGAIN presents Jesus as quoting Scriptures to his disciples.

Luke describes the disciples. They were afraid, perhaps because they thought the Romans may now run after them. There was uncertainty because their leader and master, who they thought was the Messiah, is dead. They felt sad because they lost a loved one.

Interpretation

Luke was writing to an audience of Greeks, and the concept of physical resurrection was unacceptable to them. Luke was also writing during a time (around 85 AD) when Docetism was prevalent. Docetists believed that Jesus did not really have a physical body (since matter was evil); and that his appearance, as well as his crucifixion, were an illusion.

Thus, Luke presents two proofs:

- Jesus presents himself, in flesh and bones, to contradict doubts that he is a ghost. He even asks for food and eats with them

- Secondly, he quotes Scriptures. He explains how the Son of Man must suffer, die and rise from the dead, in fulfillment of Scriptures.

Jesus’ greeting of “Peace be with you” is also indicative of Scriptures. It is not a mere Jewish greeting. It is the messianic peace announced in Scriptures (see Isaiah 9:6, “He will be called Prince of Peace).

The Resurrection appearances in the Emmaus incident and in the appearance to the disciples were Luke’s way of saying:

Jesus is risen. He has a body which you can see, but it is a “resurrected, transformed body” which is not the same as his body before his death. The disciples on the way to Emmaus did not readily recognize him.

Luke message is this: Even if you haven’t seen Jesus, just like Luke’s audience and us, you can recognize him in the Scriptures.

Generalization

After Jesus’ resurrection, He made use of the scriptures for His disciples to remember Him and to remind them of His teachings. This was one way of strengthening His disciples’ faith at a time when their hearts were filled with anxieties and doubts. And these were to people who had seen him face to face.

What about us who have just “heard” about Jesus?

Jesus knew that thousands of years later it would be even easier to doubt God with all the challenges around them. Luke reminds us that we have the scripture to help us recognize Jesus’ presence and help us keep our faith. We should go to the source, to remind us how Jesus lived and how we should be living our lives now. The scripture is food for our minds and hearts.

Application

St. Jerome says, “Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Jesus Christ.”

- How much do you know Jesus?

- In times of doubt, how often have you reached for the bible, compared to how often you reached out to somene?

- How much time do I make to read God's word?

- What do I resolve to get to know Jesus more?

Reference used: Kingdom for All by Fr. Nil Guillemette.

John 20:19-31 Doubting Thomas (Gospel for April 23, 2006)

Observation

The Gospel tells of the appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples, and Thomas’s confession of Jesus as “my Lord and my God.” Note that this is the first time in the gospel of John that Jesus is addressed as “God.” Jesus appeared to his disciples twice, the first time Thomas was not with them. However, in both times, the evangelist states that the “doors were locked” (John 20:19 and 20:36).

Interpretation

Among the four evangelists, John is the only one who speaks of Thomas, who is described as a loyal and devoted disciple. In John 11:5-16, when Jesus sets out for Judea where the Jews threatened to stone him, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Yet in the Gospel, John describes Thomas’s moment of doubt. Thomas demands proof of Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus appears to Thomas who is quickly convinced and is the first to proclaim the divinity of Jesus.

This was followed by Jesus’ response to Thomas: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Jesus was referring to the faith of the eyewitnesses and apostles that depended on visual experience, in contrast to the faith of the succeeding generations of Christians who believed without having seen.

Both groups are true believers, but what differentiates them is their degree of blessedness. Those who were not eyewitnesses but nevertheless believed are, as far as John is concerned, more blessed!

Thus, Jesus spoke these words not to shame Thomas but to build up the faith of the Christian community who have not seen Jesus. John introduces a different kind of faith: “those who have not seen and have believed.” This is kind of faith that applies to us present-day Christians because we, too, have not seen but believe.

Generalization

But what does John mean that this kind of faith is more blessed?

Thomas eventually traveled to ancient Babylon (present day Iraq), Persia (present-day Iran), and India where he preached relentlessly, built churches, and won Christ over to others. For someone who was slow to believe, Thomas’s new stage of faith certainly enabled him to accomplish so much.

Believing without seeing calls us to have an openness, acceptance and trust toward God in Jesus, so that in the process, we will also be able to meet and experience the risen Christ in a more powerful way.

We often say, “to see is to believe.” Through Thomas, John is teaching us that “to believe is to see… and to see so much more.” With our faith, we see God in the beauty of creation, we see God’s hand in the event of our lives, and we see how other people continue to show the love and forgiveness that only God can make possible. Isn’t this the kind of faith that is more blessed?

Application

• There is a doubting Thomas in each one of us. When do I experience my strongest doubts?

• On the other hand, just like Thomas, what can I cite as my peak experiences of “Jesus presence in my life”?

• How can I use these experiences to transform my doubts to occasions of leveling up my faith?

Mark 14:32-42 Agony in the Garden (Gospel for April 9, 2006)

Observation:

The Gospel passage is a long one, and is the one read at Palm Sunday. It is Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection; which are the key events we reflect on during Holy Week. This commentary will focus only on the Agony in the Garden (Mark 14:32-42).

You’ve all probably seen the picture of Jesus praying with his hands folded on top of the rock, with a ray of light shining upon his face. It is a picture of the divine Jesus in deep contact with the Father; worried but confidently in control of circumstances.

Mark paints a dramatically different picture in this gospel passage!

- Jesus is “troubled and distressed” (Mark 14:33). Some scholars say that a more accurate translation should be “horrified and shocked.”

- He begs the Father to exempt him from what is about to happen, and he prays this not once, but thrice.

- He is frustrated with Peter, James and John (his core leaders) who probably drank too much wine.

But this is also the passage where:

- Jesus addresses God as “abba, father” for the first time.

- the proverbial “not what I will but what you will” is uttered

Abba is an endearing name of “father” usually uttered by a baby, and is similar to what we call our fathers, e.g. “daddy,” “papa” and so on. This shows the intimate relationship that Jesus had with God, connoting unquestionable trust. “Father,” on the other hand, expresses an intelligent appreciation of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.

Note that by saying Abba, Jesus is also already saying “not what I will but what you will” in the beginning of His prayer.

Yet, Jesus was not confident at this stage. He asked that the “cup” be taken away from him. (“Cup” is an Old Testament metaphor for punishment and divine retribution.) Jesus was filled with doubt, fear, and second thoughts.

This is not the divine Jesus in control; this is Jesus in his most human condition. This is not Jesus the Master, but the disciple to the Father, struggling with having to suffer. At agony in the garden, Jesus and we are MOST ALIKE.

Interpretation:

A major theme of the gospel of Mark is that DISCIPLESHIP ENTAILS SUFFERING. This is why Mark was not hesitant to present Jesus in his weakest circumstance. He knew that there were many Christians at that time who were either suffering OR were afraid of suffering.

Mark presents him as like a lamb being led to the slaughter. Jesus was tempted to walk away. He prays that he be allowed to do so. He does these three times, but always ending with “not what I will but what you will.”

Generalization:

We often pray “not what I will but what you will”. When we pray this, let’s admit that in the back of our mind, we hope that what we will is ALSO God will.

The gospel’s message is that God understands our struggle; he felt it too in the garden. But just like Jesus, we accept, and desire, God’s will together with every difficulty, heartache, and joy that comes with it.

Mark’s message is still true: to be a disciple is difficult, it entails sacrifices. Jesus’ “your will be done” does not mean a passive acceptance of whatever circumstances befall us. It means a “YES” to sacrifice as part of discipleship.

It is difficult to:

- attend to a difficult lamb

- forgive a person who hurt you for the second time

- keep on serving when your efforts are not recognized

- be kind and generous on a bad day

- let go of someone you love and move on

- break off from a “bad” but comfortable relationship

- wait than to settle for the next best thing (person)

- avoid bad company when asked to have a good time

- break industry practice which is wrong, but everyone is doing it

- correct a friend

- take the initiative in reconciling a friendship knowing that that the other person is wrong

- take an insult and silently understand

- and so on.

You’ve heard it said in corporate parlance that “the road to excellence is not easy.” Did you ever think that the road to discipleship would be any less easy?

Application:

You are most likely doing a lot of sacrifices right now as you travel the road of discipleship. What is the most difficult of these sacrifices? What do you consider to be the “next level” that is being asked of you?