Day 70, Luke 24
PRAISE THE LORD!! ALLELUIA HE IS RISEN!!!!
Happy Easter everyone! And congratulations on completing 70 days with Jesus!
Today we complete the Gospel according to Luke! Now finished Matthew, Mark and Luke!
Today we rejoice because the Lord the most High God has accomplished the victory and we all enter into that VICTORY over SIN and DEATH!
I went to the Easter Vigil tonight and was so excited to see the Gospel of Luke 24 as the reading!!!
I see three uplifting points in this FINAL chapter:
- Peter’s Faith
- Hearts Burning
- Peace be with YOU
1- Peter’s Faith
I love the different accounts of the Resurrection Narratives! They each have the same truth but different perspectives and we can receive so much from them!
What I loved about Luke’s is that we read that the women after seeing the two men — in dazzling garments — heavenly – because it reminds us of the transfiguration —
returned home from the tomb and announce all these things to the eleven — the apostles minus Judas –
and we read that their story seemed like…
Nonsense, and they did not believe them.
So that is it — Jesus had told them what was to happen but they did not believe — these holy women of God —
BUT — we see one of the biggest BUTS in the bible — there are a few –
BUT PETER — go Peter!!!!
BUT PETER GOT UP and RAN TO THE TOMB!!!!
Peter who had suffered since Thursday night but especially Friday when the cock crowed — it had been over 24 hours and he had a chance to really reflect on what he had done -
- how he had denied the Lord and he must have been praying all this time and ready to turn around at the proper time!
He went running to Jesus!
He got to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home
AMAZED at what had happened!
This reminds me of the verses — I will turn you sorrow into JOY!
Peter must have felt so much joy knowing that the Lord had done what He said He would do –
I am sure he had questions but in his heart he must have known that Jesus was up to His plan!
It was now a matter of heart to believe…
speaking of hearts…
2- Hearts Burning
Before Jesus appears to the apostles we read that on that very day two of them — meaning apostles were going to a village seven miles — interesting that it was seven miles!
Then while they were conversing and debating Jesus draw near!!
When Jesus appeared to them they did not recognize Him!! They told Him the whole story!!
Do you ever tell Jesus YOUR WHOLE STORY — over and over — like He doesn’t know — well it must be because you/we don’t recognize Him! This was a big insight for me!!
They even say that on the third day!!! On the third day is today! We were really hoping that He would redeem Israel!
What does Jesus say… OH HOW FOOLISH YOU ARE!
HOW SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE ALL THAT THE PROPHETS SPOKE!
WAS IT NOT NECESSARY THAT THE MESSIAH SHOULD SUFFER THESE THINGS AND ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?
Can you imagine the patience of our Savior?!!!! After all He went through –
but here we see Jesus the Master risen from the dead still teaching as He still teaches today — and interpreting the scriptures!!!
Here we see next that He interprets the WORD –
“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.”
So here we have evidence of the fact — as the Catholic Church teaches that JESUS the ETERNAL WORD is present throughout all the scriptures — old and new testament!
And then we see that their eyes were opened when?
When He breaks the bread and says the blessing — the MASS!!!
Our eyes are opened and we recognize Jesus at every Mass — and we leave there transformed as these apostles did — as they say,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
This is also the reason why we have liturgy of WORD and then liturgy of EUCHARIST — the Word prepares us by the Power of the Holy Spirit to receive JESUS our LORD in the EUCHARIST!
When these two apostles returned — so excited I am sure — they found out that Jesus had already appeared to Simon — Peter! HOW AMAZING!!
Peter had his meeting with Jesus — and they told everyone about there encouter with Jesus in the breaking of the bread –
3- Peace be with YOU
While they were all still speaking about this Jesus appears to them all at once -
I think that when two are more are gathered together in His name — there He is in their midst — this is the word of God — in another place in scripture but we see it happening here up close and personal!
Jesus says “Peace be with YOU” because He knows that they are troubled…
He says — “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Once again Jesus refers to the Word of God and how He fulfilled it –
He speaks of the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms!! Interesting that He mentions the Psalms too!!! Most people don’t realize that Jesus is all over the Psalms!
Then we see Jesus open their minds to understand the scriptures!!!
After all they went through for three years of training — the passion and resurrection and now Jesus must open their minds to the scriptures!
So you see that it is a great grace to understand the scriptures!!! Only Jesus can do that for us by the Power of the Holy Spirit -
– now the apostles hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet and Jesus refers to this event and that they are to pray until the promise of the Father sends them the Power from on high which will cloth them!
This is our example and this is why He had to leave them — and so we see the Ascension!
A lot to go through in one day — no wonder Jesus had to say PEACE BE WITH YOU!
We will spend two days on this chapter as well — so much here –and then we will start John on Tuesday!! WHooo hoooo!
Many Congratulations! Happy Easter! HE IS RISEN and HE IS ALIVE!! REJOICE!
This feast of Easter now lasts — in the MASS for eight days I believe — so it is ONE MASS all week long — very cool!!!
Let us thank God for the gift of Easter!!
Praise Jesus for the WORD and His love and teaching!
God bless you all!
