The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him 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 Messiah 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.
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 Messiah 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.
Commentary of the day :
Saint Cyril of Alexandria (380-444), Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Commentary on Saint John's Gospel, ch. 12
Saint Cyril of Alexandria (380-444), Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Commentary on Saint John's Gospel, ch. 12
Saint Matthew, in his Gospel, writes that Christ took Peter, James and John, led them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. But, since they were not able to bear such a vision, they fell prostrate (Mt 17,1f). This is why, in order to conform himself in everything to the Father's plan, our Lord Jesus appeared again in the upper room under the appearance he had before and not according to the glory that is owing to him, appropriate to the Temple of his transfigured body. He did not want faith in the resurrection to be founded on some other appearance or a different body than the one he received from the Virgin Mary and with which he had died on a cross, according to the Scriptures. Indeed, death had no power except over the flesh from which it was going to be cast out. For, if his dead body had not been raised, what kind of death has been vanquished? ... It could not have been just a soul, nor an angel, nor even simply the Word of God...
Moreover, the fact that the Lord entered through locked doors, anyone who is sensible will count as proof of his resurrection too. He greets his disciples with these words: “Peace be with you”, revealing in this way that he himself is peace. For those amongst whom he makes himself present receive a perfectly calm and peaceful spirit from it. Without doubt this is what Saint Paul wished for the faithful when he said: “May the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ” (Phil 4,7).
Moreover, the fact that the Lord entered through locked doors, anyone who is sensible will count as proof of his resurrection too. He greets his disciples with these words: “Peace be with you”, revealing in this way that he himself is peace. For those amongst whom he makes himself present receive a perfectly calm and peaceful spirit from it. Without doubt this is what Saint Paul wished for the faithful when he said: “May the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ” (Phil 4,7).
No comments:
Post a Comment