The appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem

LUKE 24:35-48

THE disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 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.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

REFLECTION

PEACE BE WITH YOU. Sending the seventy [two], Jesus instructed them, “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’ ” (Lk 10:5). Shalom is a common Semitic greeting, usually translated “peace,” wishing the well-being of the person.

Peace is the gift of the risen Lord (v 36; cf Jn 20:19, 26) to the disciples. Jesus has to assure them that he is not a ghost, so he shows his hands and feet, allowing them to touch him. To prove that he is alive, he asks for food.

He reminds them that his passion, death, and resurrection are the fulfillment of what has been written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. He instructs them again on the meaning of the Scriptures so that they can understand the significance of his death and resurrection, and the need for the people to repent of their sins and experience the peace he brings.

“Peace is not merely the absence of war… Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 2304).