I wonder how we would react if Jesus suddenly stood among us here in Peachtree City today and said, “Peace be with you.” Would we be “startled and terrified”? Would we be incredulous? Would we think we were seeing a ghost? Would we have the nerve to touch him? Would we call the police or have him sent off for a psychiatric evaluation? Would we follow him if he asked us to travel with him? What would we do?
In today’s gospel from Luke 24:35–48, Jesus challenges the Disciples by asking them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?” Basically, what he says to the Disciples and to us 21st Century Disciples is, I am real. Not only am I real, my message is real as well. And your job is to proclaim this message to the entire world.
The message is clear. Jesus suffered and died. And on the third day, He rose from the dead thus fulfilling what God the Father “announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets” (Acts 3:18). We are to proclaim “repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Repentance is total conversion. It means removing the obstacles that keep us away from God. Repentance is a change of heart, a change of mind and a change of behavior. As St. Peter tells us in today’s first reading, “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19).
Our final mandate is to preach the reality of Christ to “all the nations.” Jesus told the Disciples to begin in Jerusalem. Our job is to proclaim the reality of Jesus right here in Peachtree City, Georgia. We can begin by acknowledging the real presence of Jesus in our own lives, then in our immediate families, then in our neighborhood, parish, work place and school. It is up to us to make Jesus real in our community.
God of the living,
who will believe that your Son is risen
if he is not alive among us today?
Open our minds to understand the Scriptures
and fill us with joyful wonder in the presence of the risen Christ,
that we may be his witnesses
to the ends of the earth.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the first-born from the dead,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
