Daily Thought For April 25, 2019

Incredulous Joy

Lectio

Luke 24:35–48

Meditatio

“… still incredulous for joy.”

Have you ever been “incredulous for joy”? Perhaps you received some good news—an invitation to a wonderful event, or a gift, or an award that you never imagined receiving. At first it seems too amazing, and you search for other possibilities. Is it a joke or a dream? What conditions are attached?

The disciples in the upper room are incredulous for joy (after getting over their terror at seeing what they think is a ghost). They look more closely at Jesus, touch him, and realize that he is not a spirit. But they still can’t get over it. They still don’t believe that they’re seeing Jesus raised from the dead. There has to be another explanation. It is just too amazing.

But Jesus has important things to say to them. He doesn’t want them to be distracted, still puzzling over how it could be true. So he asks them a simple, down-to-earth question, something so matter-of-fact that it brings them out of their daze.

“Have you anything here to eat?” They find some leftover fish from dinner and give it to him. They watch as he eats it. They have eaten with him many times over the past few years. The simple act of eating brings them to accept the truth, and Jesus goes on to speak with them about the Scriptures and how they must be the witnesses for him.

Jesus is alive. It’s true! He has conquered death. We are invited to live his life, to be made utterly new. We can’t waste time being incredulous. Haven’t we been touched by his love in so many ways? Haven’t we eaten with him? He has something to say to us. When we stop questioning, we will be able to hear what it is.

Oratio

Jesus, sometimes the new life you offer me seems too good to be true. But I believe in you. I believe that you died and rose again. I believe that you speak to me through your word. Are you asking me to offer the hope of new beginnings to someone who thinks it’s too late to start again? Am I being called to witness in some other way? I want to listen carefully, to be open to what you want to say to me, to all the ways you are calling me to witness to you.

Contemplatio

Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.


Daughters of Saint Paul. (2011). Easter Grace: Daily Gospel Reflections. (M. G. Dateno & M. L. Trouvé, Eds.) (pp. 14–15). Boston, MA: Pauline Books & Media.