Here is part of today’s Gospel, from St Luke, the continuation of the Emmaus story: ‘As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts?  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them’.

St Ambrose commented: ‘Then, the disciples being troubled, thought they saw a spirit. To show us the appearance of the resurrection, the Lord said, “Touch, and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me to have.” He actually penetrated the closed and inaccessible room through the likeness of a bodily resurrection and not through a spiritual nature. They touch and handle a body, so we rise in the body. It is sown a natural body, but it rises a spiritual body. The one is fine; the other is crude, since it is still hard with the nature of earthly stains. Did not the Lord offer them to touch a body that retained the signs of the wounds and the marks of the scars? He not only strengthens faith but also kindles devotion, because he set his wounds accepted for our sake and refused to remove them, to show God the Father the costs of our freedom. The Father seats such a One at his right hand, embracing the trophies of our salvation’.

Christ’s greeting is ‘Peace’. He sheds peace in our hearts through His risen Presence, in the Sacraments, and in the deep interior of our own hearts. Let us not be afraid to trust this peace and this love; and may God bless you this day.