Afraid of Our Own Ghost

April 13, Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Acts 3:11-26 and Lk 24:35-48

We may have heard of the phrase ‘afraid of your own ghost’. Tormented thoughts are like our own ghost haunting us. Imagine the torture that it gives.

Such was the state of mind of the people in the first reading and so with Jesus’ disciples. They were all troubled.

In the first reading, the people’s amazement or astonishment was more of a disbelief, a disturbance – because they were troubled. How couldn’t they? They had Jesus nailed on the cross.

In the Gospel, the disciples were also troubled but not because they had Jesus nailed on the cross. What tormented them was their lack of faith. Their lack of faith fed their fear.

We, too, may be afraid of our own ghosts. We are either haunted by our sins or our lack of faith. Or, both! We know how miserable it is to be tormented by our sins and fears. We may pretend unaffected but the truth is that the torment is killing us softly.

But thank God for the Good News that is Easter. Christ’s resurrection brings us the peace that none in this world can offer. The torture of sin and the paralyzing effect of fear because of lack of faith can only be allayed with the peace that Christ brings, the peace that stems from our willingness to carry our crosses as we follow the way of Jesus. The noise from within is a deafening torture. It can be indeed frightening.

The first reading tells us how we can free ourselves from our own ghosts that haunt us: repent and be converted. The Gospel tells us, too, how we can allay our fears and exclaim ‘O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!’  Recognize the risen Christ and have faith!