Dear Brothers and Sisters, Buongiorno!
On this Third Sunday of Easter, we return to Jerusalem, in the Cenacle, as guided by the two disciples of Emmaus, who had listened with great emotion to Jesus’ words along the way and then had recognized him “in the breaking of the bread” (Lk 24:35). Now, in the Cenacle, the Risen Christ presents himself in the midst of the group of disciples and greets: “Peace to you!” (v. 36). But they are frightened and believe “that they saw a spirit” (v. 37), as the Gospel says. Then Jesus shows them the wounds in his body and says: “See my hands and my feet” – the wounds – “that it is I myself; handle me” (v. 39). And to convince them, he asks for food and eats it before their astonished eyes (cf. vv. 41-42).
There is a detail here, in this description. The Gospel says that the Apostles “they still disbelieved for joy”. The joy they had was such that they could not believe that this was true. And a second detail: they were bewildered, astonished; astonished because the encounter with God always leads you to astonishment: it goes beyond enthusiasm, beyond joy; it is another experience. And they were joyful, but a joy that made them think: no, this cannot be true!… It is the astonishment of God’s presence. Do not forget this frame of mind, which is so beautiful.
Three very concrete verbs characterize this Gospel passage. In a certain sense, they reflect our individual and community life: to look, to touch and to eat. Three actions that can give joy from a true encounter with the living Jesus.
To look. “See my hands and my feet”, Jesus says. To look is not only to see, it is more; it also involves intention, will. For this reason, it is one of the verbs of love. A mother and father look at their child; lovers gaze at each other; a good doctor looks at the patient carefully…. Looking is a first step against indifference, against the temptation to look the other way before the difficulties and sufferings of others. To look. Do I see or look at Jesus?
The second verb is to touch. By inviting the disciples to touch him, to verify that he is not a ghost – touch me! – Jesus indicates to them and to us that the relationship with Him and with our brothers and sisters cannot remain “at a distance”. Christianity does not exist at a distance; Christianity does not exist only at the level of looking. Love requires looking and it also requires closeness; it requires contact, the sharing of life. The Good Samaritan did not limit himself to looking at that man whom he found half dead along the road: he stopped, he bent down, he treated his wounds, he touched him, he loaded him on his mount and took him to the inn. And it is the same with Jesus himself: loving him means entering into a communion of life, a communion with Him.
And thus, we come to the third verb, to eat, which clearly expresses our humanity in its most natural poverty, that is, our need to nourish ourselves in order to live. But eating, when we do so together, among family or friends, also becomes an expression of love, an expression of communion, of celebration…. How often the Gospels present Jesus to us who experiences this convivial dimension! Even as the Risen One, with his disciples. To the point that the Eucharistic Banquet has become the emblematic sign of the Christian community. Eating together the Body of Christ: this is the core of Christian life.
Brothers and sisters, this Gospel passage tells us that Jesus is not a “ghost”, but a living Person; that when Jesus draws near to us he fills us with joy, to the point of disbelief, and he leaves us bewildered, with that astonishment that only God’s presence gives, because Jesus is a living Person.
Being Christian is not first of all a doctrine or a moral ideal; it is a living relationship with Him, with the Risen Lord: we look at him, we touch him, we are nourished by Him and, transformed by his Love, we look at, touch and nourish others as brothers and sisters. May the Virgin Mary help us to live this experience of grace.
Wara r-Regina Caeli
Għeżież ħuti!
Ilbieraħ, fl-Abazija ta’ Casamiri ġew dikjarati Beati Simone Cardon u ħames sħabu martri, monaċi ċisterċensi minn dik l-abazija. Fl-1799, meta suldati franċiżi ta’ Napuljun kienu qed jirtiraw minn Napli u kienu jissakkeġġjaw knejjes u monasteri, dawn id-dixxipli ġwejda ta’ Kristu irreżistew b’kuraġġ erojku, sal-mewt, biex ma jħallux li l-Ewkaristija tkun ipporfanata. Jalla l-eżempju tagħhom jixprunana biex inseddqu fina impenn ta’ fedeltà akbar lejn Alla, bil-ħila li jittrasforma s-soċjetà u jagħmilha aktar ġusta u fraterna. Applaws lill-Beati l-ġodda!
U din hi ħaġa ta’ niket. Qed insegwi bi tħassib kbir il-ġrajjiet f’xi nħawi tal-Ukrajna tal-lvant, fejn dawn l-aħħar xhur żdied sew il-ksur tal-waqfien mill-ġlied, u qed nosserva b’inkwiet kbir iż-żjieda tal-attivitajiet militari. Jekk jogħġobkom, nawgura bil-qawwa kollha li t-tensjonijiet ma jiżdidux, anzi, bil-maqlub, jitfittxew soluzzjonijiet li jistgħu ikattru l-fiduċja reċiproka u jiffavorixxu r-rikonċiljazzjoni u l-paċi, tant meħtieġa u tant nixtieqa. Nagħmlu tagħna wkoll is-sitwzzjoni umanitarja gravi li fiha tinsab il-popolazzjoni, u lilha nesprimilha l-qrubija tiegħi u nitlobkom titolbu għalihom. Sliem għalik, Marija….
Illum fl-Italja huwa l-Jum iddedikat lill-Università Cattolica tas-Sacro Cuore, li għal mitt sena ilha tagħti servizz prezzjuż fil-formazzjoni tal-ġenerazzjonijiet il-ġodda. Jalla tkun tista’ tkompli taqdi dil-missjoni edukattiva biex tgħin liż-żgħażagħ isiru protagonisti ta’ġejjieni għani bit-tama. Inbierek minn qalbi lill-impjegati, lill-professuri u lill-istudenti tal-Università Cattolica.
U issa tislima minn qalbi lilkom, rumani u pellegrini… brażiljani, pollakki, spanjoli… u qed nara bandiera oħra hemmhekk… Bil-grazzja t’Alla nistgħu nerġgħu nitlaqgħu mill-ġdid f’dil-pajzza għall-appuntament ta’ kull nhar ta’ Ħadd u fil-festi. Ngħidilkom ħaġa: inħoss in-nuqqas tal-pjazza kull meta jkolli nagħmel l-Angelus mill-biblijoteka. Jien kuntent, għall-grazzja t’Alla! U grazzi likom tal-preżenza tagħkom…. Liż-żgħażagħ tal-Immakolata li huma bravi… u nawgura lil kulħadd il-Ħadd it-tajjeb. Jekk jogħġobkom tinsewx titolbu għalija. L-ikla t-tajba u arrivederci!
After the Regina Caeli:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Yesterday in the Abbey of Casamari, Cardon and five companion martyrs, Cistercian monks of that Abbey, were proclaimed Blessed. In 1799, when French soldiers withdrawing from Naples sacked churches and monasteries, these meek disciples of Christ resisted with heroic courage, unto death, to defend the Eucharist from desecration. May their example spur us to a greater commitment of fidelity to God, even capable of transforming society and making it more just and fraternal. A round of applause for the new Blesseds!
And this is something sad. I am following with deep concern the events in several areas of eastern Ukraine, where in recent months violations of the cease-fire have multiplied, and I observe with great apprehension the increase of military activities. Please, I firmly hope that the increase of tensions may be avoided and, on the contrary, gestures may be made that are capable of promoting mutual trust and fostering reconciliation and peace, so necessary and so desired. May we also keep at heart the grave humanitarian situation being experienced by that population, to whom I express my closeness and for whom I invite you to pray. Ave Maria….
Today in Italy we are celebrating the Day for the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, which for one hundred years has offered a valuable service for the formation of the new generations. May it continue to carry out its educational mission to help young people to be protagonists of a future rich in hope. I offer my heartfelt blessing to the staff, professors and students of the Catholic University.
And now I offer a warm greeting to all of you, people of Rome and pilgrims…, Brazilians, Poles, Spanish people…, and I see another flag there…. Thanks be to God we can find ourselves again in this Square for the Sunday and holiday appointment. I’ll tell you something: I miss the Square when I have to recite the Angelus in the library. I am happy, thanks be to God! And thank you for your presence…. To the young people of the Immacolata, who are good…. And to everyone I wish a happy Sunday. Please do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch. Arrivederci!
Source: Vatican.va