Friars Corner: Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalms 4:2, 4, 7-9; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48

On Easter we read St. John’s description of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, going to the apostles and meeting the resurrected Jesus back at the tomb. Peter and John went to the tomb but did not see Jesus. Mary went back to the tomb and thought Jesus was the gardener until he spoke her name with great love.

In St. Matthew’s account there were six other women with Mary Magdalene. They too saw Jesus and reported to the apostles who still did not believe.

Last Sunday we read more of the Easter evening when Jesus appeared alive, wished them peace and breathed on them. He gave them the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins. This is where the power of the sacrament of Reconciliation comes from.

Then the church added the story about Thomas being absent on Easter but present the following week. He would not believe unless he could see Jesus. When he saw and touched Jesus, he believed. It is a little much for a preacher to put in those two stories. They tend to talk about one story and miss the other.

Peace be with you

This Sunday we read the Easter evening appearance from St. Luke. Jesus appeared alive and wished the apostles peace. They were “startled and terrified,” thinking he was a ghost. Jesus showed them his hands and feet and ate a piece of baked fish to prove he was not a ghost. He explained how he had to fulfill all that was written about him in the Law of Moses, the prophets and psalms.

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rises from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

As we put the Easter gospel stories together, Jesus appeared five times to various people showing them that he was truly alive yet his body had different characteristics, human and divine. It is interesting to think of Jesus appearing and leaving without walking through the doors or floating through the windows. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind to understand the scripture stories.

One story we miss in St. Luke is that of the two men, Clophas and Luke, who had head the women’s stories but felt it was all too much for them and left Jerusalem. They discussed those things as they went to Emmaus in the late afternoon. A stranger began to walk with them but they did not recognize him. This stranger explained the scriptures. They invited him to stay with them for the night and went into an inn to have dinner. They recognized the stranger when he blessed the bread and broke it. Their eyes were opened, Jesus vanished and they ran back to the Upper Room.

Resurrection appearances

This is a list in order of the he Gospel resurrection appearances, plus St. Paul’s conversion

1. To Mary Magdalen Easter morning: Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18
2. To the other women at the tomb Easter morning: Matthew 8:8-10
3. To two disciples on the way to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35 (early evening on Easter day)
4. To those in the Upper Room Easter evening: John 20:19 fb; Luke 24:36-43; Mark 16
5. To those in the Upper Room a week later: John 20:24-30
6. To 7 apostles after all night fishing, Breakfast with Jesus: John 21:1-14
7. To over 500 at one time: Luke 24:44-49
8. At the Ascension: Luke 24:50-51: “Then he led them out as far as Bethany and lifted up his hands he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up to heaven.”
9. At the conversion of St. Paul: Acts 9:3-9.

We are Catholic and Christian today because they obeyed Jesus and went to tell the nations.

Are not our hearts burning?

I love thinking about these stories. May Jesus open your mind to understand and come to deeper faith. As you become thrilled about all this you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit with boldness to tell others what you have found, especially our “daily bread.”

At daily Mass this week we shall be reading John’s account of Jesus in the Eucharist. Five times he tells us he is the bread that came down from heaven as our food. We are to eat his Body and drink his Blood, which he poured out for us for the forgiveness of our sins. Are not our hearts burning as we meditate on these holy things?

Have a blessed week,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)