THURSDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER, APRIL 24, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

REFLECTION

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

It is Jesus who will bring souls to Himself. The chaos of the world will find in Him, the author of life, peace from the wooden cross. Startled, overwhelmed souls, and obstinate hearts will find Jesus who pursues them.

We are all ignorant. Many times we succumb to the lie that it is too late for a lost soul; we are still struggling with our misperceptions and misunderstanding the Father’s love and, therefore, we dare not trust the Truth.

But He tells us otherwise ..,

Jesus, the Resurrected Christ, is real: not a ghost, a wish, a made up story. He is a whole person who eats fish with His disciples after Easter!

Wayward sinners, atheists, agnostics, criminals, addicts are NOT lost souls that our concern is merely a shrug. Jesus brings a new life, freshness, and a new beginning. The Lord takes the initiative. “ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. (Rv 3:20).

Let’s open the door of our minds and let Him help us understand the Scripture. Pray for one another and for conversions. Pray for dedicated priests.

Visit papamio.org and click on FACE ZBS (face to face with God, Bible study via zoom) teachings, found at the bottom of the page as we have Scripture teachings with PAPA spiritual advisor, Father Michael, every Wednesday. Please join us by contacting us at papa@papamio.org for more details.

God bless you

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