Third Sunday of Easter 2024

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
1 Jn 2:1-5a
Lk 24:35-48

Commissioned for Mission

The setting for Sunday’s gospel reading (Luke’s version) is the evening of Jesus’ resurrection. The closest disciples of Jesus are in a locked room out of fear. The two disciples who walked to Emmaus with Jesus earlier in the day, and who had come to recognize him “in the breaking of bread,’ returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples about their experience. While explaining the appearance of Jesus on the way to Emmaus, Jesus appears in their midst.

Jesus greets his disciples with the words, “Peace be with you.” This is a necessary greeting since the disciples have witnessed the death of someone they loved, and they now fear for their own lives. Peace is what they need more than anything else.

In spite of Jesus’ greeting of peace, the disciples are terrified, even going so far as to think Jesus is a ghost. Jesus invites them to touch him and he even eats their food. Their hearts soon turn to amazement and joy.

The Risen Jesus will not return to his earthly mission and ministry. It is the disciples who will continue his mission. In all the accounts of the Risen Jesus appearing to his disciples, there is always a commission for mission. They are to remain in Jerusalem until they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and then they will go forth.

Through our baptism, we have been commissioned to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus. We live in a world where peace, forgiveness and healing are desperately needed. Our lives as committed Christians should mirror the compassionate care of Jesus given to all he ministered to during his earthly life. Inner peace is a gift we can share with others to help lessen anxiety, fear, confusion. We cannot give to others what we do not first possess ourselves. Working to be at peace interiorly is essential to our call to mission. If we are at peace ourselves, we will be able to reach out to others in need.

Just as the disciples saw the face of Jesus in their post resurrection meeting, we too become the face of Jesus for others. The response to the Responsorial Psalm should be our daily prayer for this to happen. “Lord, let your face shine on us.”

How can you be a disciple of faith who becomes the face of Jesus for others?

In what ways does your inner peace speak to the needs of all those you meet?