To See Is to Believe

April 4, Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Daily Readings: Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48

In our first reading, the discipleship of Jesus continues to give testimony to Jesus as the Son of God. They let the people know that their power of healing comes from Jesus and not from them. They reminded them that, because of their ignorance, they condemned  Jesus to death but on the third day, God raised him from the dead.  The death of Jesus invites the people to increase their faith in God and to accept the call for conversion.

In the gospel today, Jesus appeared to his disciples. The disciples at first were frightened and thought that he was a ghost. However, Jesus told them to see and touch his hands and feet, saying that he was flesh and bones. He joined them in their meal and reminded them of what he told them before: that the Son of God will suffer and die but on the third day he will rise again.

In our lives, sometimes all the evidence is brought to our faces but we ask for more. How often do we insist on additional manifestations before we become convinced? Do we need to see it first before we believe in it? Similar to the gospel, despite hearing that Jesus had risen from the dead, the disciples remained uncertain about their beliefs.

That is why, when Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst, they had an ambivalent feeling and were so frightened that they thought He was a ghost. In the end, Jesus challenged them to look at and feel his wounded hands and feet.

Lord, we truly believed in the fulfillment of the prophecy and the resurrection of the Son of God, who endured suffering and death due to our sinfulness.

Lord, continue to help us to turn away from our sinfulness and live a holy life. Amen.