Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 3: 14-15, I 7-19;
John 2: 1-5;
Luke 24: 35-48;
What's the first thing you're likely to say when you get back home after meeting a famous personality, or someone you haven't seen for ages? Something along the lines of, "you'll never guess whom I met today." And that's just what various women and the two disciples on their way to Emmaus had tried to do. In spite of that, those who hadn't yet experienced the risen Lord personally found it hard, impossible even, to believe those who had. The disciples had had opportunities to consider and believe in the resurrection, but Jesus being a ghost still seemed to be the likeliest explanation. It was only by asking for food to eat in front of them that He finally convinces them it's not a ghost but the real Him.
Once the disciples were convinced of the reality of His presence, they were transformed and became changed men, able to face opposition, able to face up to the scribes and Pharisees, the leaders of the Sanhedrin, to the point of accusing them of putting the Lord of life to death. Having run away from his Master's crucifixion, Peter is able to face his own, while Stephen accepts being stoned to death. A truly remarkable transformation! Both were changed by the fact, the proof, of the resurrection.
How about the times when we are asked to be loyal to our faith in the face of opposition? When doctors and nursing staff have to speak up for the value of unborn human life; when you see something wrong going on at work; when you see young people destroying property; when you have to make a difficult decision to speak to a family member about his or her conduct and your own values, or their way of life being incompatible with the faith they (or you!) profess?
Telling the truth, being honest, standing up for the weak and the powerless are all ways of witnessing to the faith. That holds good particularly for our young people who must find It SO hard to remain loyal to the faith in which you as parents have brought them up, when peer group pressure demands that they be like their friends who are out to all hours, who "hang out" at the shops or street comers, or don't go to Mass. Maybe the greatest witness to the faith we can make is simply by coming here and joining the community in the celebration of the Eucharist even in the face of personal doubt, and giving (or receiving) strength to or from those around us.
The disciples doubted even in the face of first-hand stories from their friends, even when they first saw the risen Christ for themselves.
We might wish that we hadn't heard the Lord calling in the night, recognised Jesus in the stranger on the road or had our hearts bum as we read of Him the Scriptures. Then we wouldn't have been called to be His witnesses. But we did hear Him; we did recognise Him; and now we are His witnesses in today's world. That's His calling to each one of us.