Seeing is believing. This is a phrase that many people refer to when it comes to clarifying their belief or disbelief in the world. The first, main definition of Faith, is: "complete trust or confidence in someone or something", completely putting faith in what we do not know, or even see. As humans, we are people of belief and faith, always hoping for more, searching for what will bring us happiness. Think of a simple metaphor: you believe that when you go to sleep, you will wake up the next morning, rising to live another day. You could dread the idea of falling asleep, being afraid of the very small possibility of not waking up, but in hope, you fall asleep and wake up to breathe, laugh, live life in a new day. In being human, we build our very lives around hope. Religious faith then is found in our very core and functioning, even for those who believe that religion is inexistant, found in the desire to hope.
Today's Gospel states:'Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things' (Luke 24:35-48).
Jesus shows the disciples his hands and feet, making visible the wounds from the nails in his body, yet they still question him. They had been told already by the women that he had risen, yet they remained saddened and living in disbelief. Only when Jesus breaks the bread and recalls the Paschal Mystery with them at dinner, are their eyes opened and they have true faith. Jesus calls them to witness not with their eyes, but in their hearts, through recalling the Last Supper in the mass, through receiving the Eucharist. We must then be faithful as Jesus instructs us to be, and receive the Eucharist so to remember God's love for us, and the hope for joy and renewal in the world.
Today's prayer comes from 'Catholic Online' a prayer to be faithful serving God:
Father in Heaven,ever-living source of all that is good,keep me faithful in serving You.Help me to drink of Christ's Truth,and fill my heart with His Loveso that I may serve You in faithand love and reach eternal life.In the Sacrament of the EucharistYou give me the joy of sharing Your Life.Keep me in Your presence.Let me never be separated from Youand help me to do Your Will.
Take the Prayer Trivia Quiz now! Amen.
