Gospel Reflection April 18 – Sr. Teresa
Sunday, April 18
Third Sunday of Easter
Luke 24: 35-48
Gospel:
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus 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.”
Gospel Reflection:
“Have you anything here to eat?” how many parents and grandparents hear those words as kids and grandkids pop in or return home after college? I was happy to hear Jesus, the Risen Lord, ask the same question. It meant that the resurrected body gets hungry. So, I guess it is true when I get to heaven, I will be able to eat all the ice cream I want! We will save that discussion of heaven for another day.
The readings following Easter recount the many times Jesus appeared to others after his Resurrection. In a few of those appearances food was involved. Jesus made breakfast for the disciples who had gone night fishing, he broke bread with the two on the road to Emmaus and in the story for today.
The gospel today finds two of the disciples recounting all that had happened to them. They are referring to the story of their journey on the road to Emmaus. They tell the others that they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. In the midst of the retelling, Jesus suddenly appears. After a short interchange he asks the question that drew me deeply into this passage. “Have you anything to eat?” It reminded me of the miracle of the loaves and the fish. The people were hungry. The disciples wanted to send them home so they could feed themselves. Jesus, always aware of people’s hunger, told the disciples to use what they had and feed them. It is the role of the disciple to feed the hungry. I think in this passage Jesus is reminding them that they must provide for the hunger of others.
“Have you anything here to eat?” As we look around, especially after the last 18 months, we have heard so much about hunger. Food pantries, soup kitchens, social organizations that help to feed the hungry have nearly reached the breaking point, as the numbers needing food escalates.
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the hungry?
During Lent, churches all over the world participated in Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. This is an organization that helps to teach others how to grow crops that would provide proper nourishment for their families. They teach others how to irrigate and develop what little land they have. 75% of all monies collected is used by CRS in places around the world in great need of water and food. 25% is sent to our own diocese to also provide for the needs of those who are hungry.
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the hungry?
COVID-19 “lockdown,” “isolation,” “confinement” or whatever word you use has made us aware of other hungers that the people experience. Being cut off from loved ones who are in care centers or nursing homes and not being able to visit with our families and friends has left many of us emotionally ‘hungry’. Not being able to socialize through work or other activities have left us longing for companionship and all the expressions of love and care connected with companionship. We hunger for human contact.
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the emotional and relational hunger of others?
For weeks we were not able to participate at Mass or receive Holy Communion. Many still are not able to do that. Did it make us aware of the hunger for gathering with a faith community and together receiving that most precious gift that Jesus left us – the gift of his Body and Blood?
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the spiritual hunger of others?
We witnessed so much rage and injustice , the killing of George Floyd and other people of color, the rising acts of violence in our own cities, the riot at the Capital Building in Washington, more and more mass shootings, the attacks on the Asian communities, white supremacy and racism on so many levels.
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the hunger for peace and justice?
So many people died during COVID, some from the virus and some for other reasons. Because of the safety precautions we were not able to celebrate and mourn with the rituals that offer comfort and hope. Many people were not even allowed to be with their loved one at the time of death. This has left many people without that sense of hope that our faith rituals surround us at the time of death.
“Have you anything to eat?” they ask. Do we hear Jesus telling us to feed them ourselves? What might I do to help feed the hunger for peace and hope that so many experience?
Take time to sit and reflect: What hungers do you recognize in yourself, others, the world, or the Church? Hear Jesus ask: “Have you anything to eat?” Hear him tell the disciples “feed them yourself.” Then decide what one thing you will do to satisfy the hunger of another. What we do for another we do for Jesus.
–Sister Teresa Tuite, OP