Gospel (Lk 24:35-48)

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

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

Commentary

Jesus shows us his wounds. Our Lord wants to be recognized by his glorious wounds. They are the seal that love has left imprinted forever on his glorious Body: on his hands, feet and side.

This simple manifestation expresses the wonderful meaning of the Cross. The signs of Jesus’ love for all mankind do not remain on Calvary; they have ascended to Heaven and risen to glory. It is true that they no longer bleed, but they continue saying the same thing that they expressed on Calvary.

With his glorious wounds Jesus teaches us that we should not be afraid of wounds, that suffering is the most sublime manifestation of love. And that the wounds of love do not have to be hidden. And he also teaches us that to live a resurrected life we need to live as crucified.

With our worldly logic, we seek to avoid any sign and memory of human suffering. Any reminder of death is eliminated from public life, from daily conversations. But Jesus, with his divine logic, makes manifest and eternalizes his Passion and Death.

He does not want us to ever forget what He did for us – and what He continues to do every day in an unbloody way in the sacrifice of the Mass.

You and I want to draw close to those signs of divine love and kiss them with the same devotion and tenderness with which Mary kisses them in Heaven. They are wounds that no longer bleed but that bestow supernatural life. And in the Holy Eucharist we want to receive his glorious Body with humility and devotion.