Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,would be preached in his name to all the nations (Lk 24:35-48)

Setting
The two disciples had just arrived in Jerusalem from Emmaus in order to bring to the disciples the news that Jesus had appeared to them.

Peace
Shalom is a typical greeting. But in this instance it meant something different. Jesus was giving to his disciples the fruits of his passion and death.

They were startled and terrified.
The sudden and unexpected appearance of Jesus startled the disciples. This turned to terror when he whom they knew to be dead was there in front of them.

Touch me and see.
Although the body of Jesus has been glorified, it remained solid and bore the wounds of the crucifixion.

They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.
In front of them may mean before their eyes. But it could also be translated as at their table. In other words, the action of Jesus was not only to show that he was not a ghost but was an act of fellowship.

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
The period covering his resurrection until his ascension (40 days in Acts) was spent in preparing his disciples for the task of calling people to faith in him. Their preaching would carry great weight for they were witnesses of what they were preaching.

STORY

Graham Greene wrote the story of Monsignor Quixote's bad dream. In that dream he saw Jesus crucified on the cross while the Jews were making fun of him. They challenged him to come down from the cross.

Suddenly Jesus gave a loud cry. He called on the angels. And they came. They removed the nails and brought him down from the cross.

The Romans knelt before him. The Pharisees worshipped him as well as the elders, the Sadducees, the priests and all of Jerusalem.

His disciples arrived one by one and they acclaimed him. In triumph they entered Jerusalem once more.

LESSON

Why was this a bad dream?

If Jesus came down from the cross he would have chosen a path different from the path that the Father willed for him. "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer."

A Japanese karate instructor volunteered his services in Don Bosco Tondo. He was a Shintoist. He was toured around the area on the first day. When he passed by the chapel, he saw the cross and asked about it. The guide explained who Jesus was and the significance of his death. But the instructor couldn't understand why Jesus had to die on the cross.

Perhaps the death of Christ on the cross is something that we take as a matter of course. But it is the cross that comes to us that we may have difficulty in understanding. Why? Why? Why?

Yet it is something that should not come as a surprise to us. For did not Jesus tell us: "If you want to be my disciple, carry your cross everyday and follow me."