There is nothing like a good scary movie or story to get the heart pumping. The men and women out there in the world of media know this and use it to their advantage. We even see its abuse in some of the news markets as they try to use fear to manipulate and control people. That’s because fear is a powerful emotion, one that makes us act in a way we might not otherwise act.
In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus appearing to the disciples seemingly out of nowhere. They know He has died, and He was buried, yet here he stands before them. “They were startled and terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.” Jesus proves to them that He is real by doing the most mundane of things: eating some fish. Inviting them to touch Him, he brings peace to them. He begins the entire encounter by saying: “Peace be with you.”
Like those believers gathered in the upper room, we too often struggle with fear and doubt. Jesus is right here in the tabernacle, and sometimes we think of Him more like a ghost. A spirit. Something ethereal and non-tangible. He is here body and soul, blood and divinity. The same Easter joy they felt when they realized He has risen is ours to have as well.
So we gather here. Jesus says to us from the altar, “Peace be with you.” He teaches us from the Ambo that everything is written about Him in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms,” and He opens our minds to understand the Scriptures. That is the Mass. It is time spent with Jesus so that we, too, can find our faith, our courage. Perhaps even grow strong enough for us to go out into the world to be His witnesses, bringing the healing power of Christ to His people. Delivering the message that God loves us and wants to bring peace, restoration, and forgiveness to all of humanity.
Remember this as we receive communion. We hold in our hands the very body of Christ. He is not a ghost, not just a spirit somehow attached to the bread. The very substance of it has been changed into our Lord and our God. The Gospel says, “You are witnesses to these things,” and so we are. We should think about this as we come forward, what a privilege, what an honor, what a blessing. Do not be afraid. God is not using fear to manipulate you or control you. That’s how the world works. Instead be filled with awe at the mercy and love of God that gives us so great a gift, His very self to feed and sustain us.
A homily for Thursday in the Octave of Easter: 4/8/2021