Today's gospel reading features another post resurrection appearance by Jesus. This one, in Luke's gospel, is just after the risen Jesus joined two of his followers on the "road to Emmaus." As the disciples receive a report from those Emmaus travelers, Jesus suddenly stands in their midst. And Luke makes a great deal about pointing out that Jesus is flesh and blood, going so far as to report that Jesus asks for and eats something, a piece of broiled fish.
Luke seems intent on not letting us miss the flesh and bones nature of resurrection. In our day, people often think of resurrection as virtually the same thing as life after death. But for Luke, resurrection is not about escaping fleshy existence, and the problem with this fallen world is not that we are made of fleshy substance. Jesus was quite able to dwell in human flesh, and the risen Jesus is flesh and blood, too.
Luke sends a powerful message to those who would locate all Christian hope off in some spiritual realm. God's kingdom is real, physical, not something wispy and ethereal. And we are called to give witness to God's power to redeem all creation, including flesh and blood.
No comments:
Post a Comment