April 28. Lectionary # 264

Scripture: Lectionary 264. Acts 3:11-26. Psalm 8:2.5.6-7.8-9. Luke
24:35-48.

Luke is the Evangelist who could keep up with St. Paul and with the recent
Pope John Paul II who did so much travelling during his papacy. Luke also
is a universalist, in the sense, that he extends the Good News of salvatio
through Jesus to everyone. We are listening to the two great works he
wrote, the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles during many of the days of
the Easter season. Today we have a banquet of delightful readings from
Luke that help us with our Easter joy and peace.

In the first reading he attests through Peter and John the power of the
Resurrected Jesus in healing the cripple who begged at the beautiful gate
of the Temple. We then are given the sequel of events following the Emmaus
story of yesterday. Luke wants everyone to share in this good news about
Christ's universal love for all men and women and even for the universe.
The liturgists chose well in having Psalm eight for the responsorial psalm
for these readings for it covers the universe, the angels, the stars. No
wonder it was a line from this psalm that was placed on the moon on man's
first giant step upon it. "When I look at the heavens, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast created: what is man that
thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him?"
The marvels and wonders of the universe and the world are so mind-boggling
that contemplation is the only response to the one who created all of this
reality of the world and the universe. "O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is
thy Name" (verses 2 and 10).

The reality of the resurrection is stressed as Jesus tells those gathered
that they are to touch him; he is not a ghost. They are to give him
something to eat for he is human. He wants them to see the imprint of the
nails in his wounds. It is really Jesus the one who said he is the way, the
truth and the life. As Christians we shun what is phantom like or unreal.
This tendency was in the early stages of Christianity and was called
docetism, namely, that some believed Jesus did not die on the Cross. He was
only a phantom like being who could not die. This took away from the
humanness of Jesus. Luke gives us the real Jesus who is kind, merciful and
loving. Qualities that a ghost or phantom cannot have. We are urged by
today's account to use all five of our senses in appreciating the
resurrection of Jesus. We must become fully alive like he is alive. Then
as Irenaeus said and has made his saying famous: "The glory of God is human
beings become fully alive." Amen. Alleuiah.