In today’s gospel, Jesus appears as if a ghost, which causes a fearful or terrified reaction from his disciples. Immediately however, Jesus puts out his hands and feet for them to see and touch. He next asks for something to eat. Following these tangible, flesh and blood experiences, Jesus opens their minds to understand that his very human suffering and very real death would now transform humanity through his resurrection.
Jesus was sent by God to be Word made flesh and he lived to teach us how to be fully human – to forgive, to suffer with, to be compassionate, to heal, to bring new life to a broken world. As Easter people, this too is our resurrection witness.
Will you recognize Jesus in the suffering humanity in your life? Will you react with full humanity to that suffering?
—Marge Sears is a writer and parishioner at Gesu Parish, Detroit MI.