Third Sunday of Easter [April 15, 2018] Luke 24:35-48

“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.” (Luke 24:39)

We listen to the last story of risen Christ’s appearance to the disciples in the Gospel of Luke. His presences point to the fact that Jesus still has several missions to accomplish on earth before He ascends into heaven. Particularly in this episode, Jesus is out to dispel the disciples’ doubt on His bodily resurrection. Some disciples may have an idea that Jesus’ appearances are mere illusions as the disciples are coping with a terrible pain of losing and failure. Some others may think that it was just a disembodied spirit or a ghost that appeared like Jesus.

 

Jesus comes to them and proves that He is neither an illusion coming from their disciples’ mind nor a mere story concocted to give false hope. He shows them his hands and feet and eats a baked fish just like an ordinary and living man does. Even Jesus says that he possesses “flesh and bones.” The disciples who see and touch Jesus’ body would acclaim in their hearts, “This is, at last, the bone of my bones and the flesh of my flesh (Gen 2:23).” From this point, we begin to recognize that Jesus’ bodily resurrection is closely linked to the story of creation in the Book of Genesis.

If we go back to the story of human creation in Genesis 2, we read a beautiful image of God as a potter artist who fashioned humanity from clay with various details of perfection. God also gave the human life as He breathed His life-giving spirit. However, soon after creation, God said that it was not good for the human to be alone. He then made other animals, but no one was proven suitable companion for that human. Thus, God, acting like a surgeon, made the first human sleep, took the rib, and fashioned another human being. When Adam woke up and saw for the first time another being in his likeness, he shouted in joy, “This is, at last, the bone of my bones and the flesh of my flesh (Gen 2:23).” The story of human creation which is highly symbolic reaches its perfection in the creation of man and woman, and how they are going to be suitable and loving partners for each other.

Going back to Gospel of Luke, the story of the appearance of the risen Lord to the disciples turns to be a story of re-creation. After the disciples are disbanded, scattered and cowardly ran away, they are as weak as soil. Jesus gathers them together and fashions them once again as a community. After the disciples are hurt deeply and defeated, they are like a clay pot shattered into pieces. Jesus comes to breathe His Spirit and to bring healing and true peace. After the disciples are disoriented and lost meaning, they are like the lonely and incomplete first Adam. Jesus, the second Adam, continues to love them, and thus, restores their purpose, and fills what is fundamentally lacking in them. Being re-created, the disciples now are suitable partners of Jesus in bringing the message of resurrection and the gospel of love to wounded humanity.

Each one of us is wounded and struggles with many issues. Despite our good effort to become a good Christian, we acknowledge we are as weak as clay. We have been unfaithful to the Lord and each other. The risen Christ does not lose hope in us. He gathers us once again as His people, and in the Eucharist, He shows us His true “flesh and blood.” Partaking in Jesus’ resurrected body means that despite our fragile nature and weaknesses, we have been re-created as His suitable partners to bring the message of hope and fulfill the mission of love. Only in risen Christ, we find our true fulfillment, yet in being one in Jesus means we also continue loving as He loves us to the end.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP