ACC ~ Luke 24 v36 - 43

CHRIST IS PRESENT TO STRENGTHEN FAITH

BEDE: First, we must note and diligently remember that the Lord condescended to stand in the middle of his disciples who were speaking around him and to reveal his presence in a vision of himself. This is what he promised elsewhere to all the faithful, saying, “Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst.” [1] In order to strengthen the steadfastness of our faith, which the presence of the divine benevolence always brings, he wished sometimes to show this by the presence of a physical vision of himself. Although we are lying far below the apostles’ feet, in our case we must trust that this same thing happens to us by his mercy. He is in our midst as often as we come together and gather in his name. His name is Jesus, that is, “Savior.” [2] When we come together to speak about receiving our eternal salvation, it is undoubtedly true that we are gathered in the name of Jesus. It is not permissible to doubt that he is present among us as we are talking about the things that he himself loves. The more truly he is present, the better we retain in a more perfect heart what we profess with our mouth. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 11.9. [3]

[1] Mt 18:20.

[2] Cf. Jer 14:8.

[3] CS 111:79-80*.

JESUS BRINGS PEACE FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS DEATH

BEDE: We must also see that when the Savior appeared to his disciples, he immediately imposed on them the joys of peace. He repeated that same thing that is a part of the celebrated glory of immortality that he gave as a special pledge of salvation and life when he was about to go to his passion and death. “Peace I leave to you. My peace I give you.” [1] The angels seen soon after he was born also proclaimed the grace of this favor to the shepherds, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” Certainly the entire divinely arranged plan of our Redeemer’s coming in the flesh is the reconciliation of the world. For this purpose, he became incarnate, suffered and was raised from the dead. He did this to lead us, who had incurred God’s anger by sinning, back to God’s peace by his act of reconciliation. The prophet correctly gave him the names “Father of the world to come” and “Prince of Peace.” [2] The apostle also wrote about him to those from among the nations who had believed. He said, “Coming, he brought the good news of peace to you who were from far off and peace to those who were near, since through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” [3] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.9. [4]

[1] Jn 14:27.

[2] Is 9:6.

[3] Eph 2:17-18.

[4] CS 111:80*.

THE DISCIPLES ARE TROUBLED

AMBROSE: Persuaded by so many examples of virtue, we believe that Peter could not have doubted. It is also clear that John believed when he saw the Savior. [1] He had already believed when he saw the tomb empty of its body. [2] Why then does Luke say that they were troubled? First, the saying of a majority includes the opinion of the few. Second, although Peter had believed the resurrection, he could be troubled when he saw that the Lord appeared unexpectedly in his body in a room where the doors were bolted and the walls solid. [3] Luke pursued details historically. One contemplated the end, and the other the course of events. By saying, “Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,” he also declares that the disciples believed. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.179. [4]

[1] See Jn 21:7.

[2] See Jn 20:8.

[3] See Jn 20:19.

[4] EHG 449**.

THE DISCIPLES DESPISED DEATH

IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH: I myself am convinced and believe that he was in the flesh even after the resurrection. When he came to Peter and his friends, he said to them, “Take hold of me. Touch me, and see that I am not a bodiless ghost.” They immediately touched him. They were convinced, clutching his body and his very breath. For this reason, they despised death itself and proved its victors. After the resurrection, he also ate and drank with them as a real human being, although in spirit he was united with the Father. LETTER TO THE SMYRNAEANS 3.1-2. [1]

[1] LCC 1:113*.

JESUS SHOWS THEM HIS WOUNDS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: To convince them firmly and absolutely that he is the same one who suffered, he immediately shows that being God by nature, he knows what is hidden. The tumultuous thoughts within them do not escape him. He said, “Why are you troubled?” This is a very clear proof that the one they see before them is not some other person. He is the same one whom they saw suffering death upon the cross and laid in the tomb, even the one who sees mind and heart and from whom nothing that is in us is hid. He gives this to them as a sign: his knowledge of the tumult of thoughts that was within them. In another way, he proves that death is conquered and that human nature has put off corruption in him. He shows his hands, his feet and the holes of the nails. He permits them to touch him and in every way convince themselves that the very body that suffered was risen. Let no one quibble at the resurrection. Although you hear the sacred Scripture say that the human body is sown a physical body but raised a spiritual body, [1] do not deny the return of human bodies to incorruption. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, CHAPTER 24. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 15:44.

[2] CGSL 618-19**.

JESUS’ DIVINE AND HUMAN NATURES ARE WITHOUT DIVISION

LEO THE GREAT: The resurrection of the Lord was truly the resurrection of a real body, because no other person was raised than he who had been crucified and died. What else was accomplished during that interval of forty days than to make our faith entire and clear of all darkness? For a while, he spoke with his disciples and remained with them, ate with them and allowed himself to be felt with careful and inquisitive touch by those who were under the influence of doubt. This was his purpose in going in to them when the doors were shut. He gave them the Holy Ghost by his breath. After giving them the light of intelligence, he opened the secrets of holy Scripture. In his same person, he showed them the wound in the side, the prints of the nails and all the fresh tokens of the passion. He said, “See my hands and feet. It is I myself. Handle me and see. A spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” He did all this so that we might acknowledge that the properties of the divine and the human nature remain in him without causing a division. We now may know that the Word is not what the flesh is. We may now confess that the one Son of God is Word and flesh. TOME 5. [1]

[1] LCC 3:367**.

JESUS SHOWS THE DISCIPLES THE WOUNDS HE WILL SHOW THE FATHER

AMBROSE: 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. [1] 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? [2] 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, [3] embracing the trophies of our salvation. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.169-70. [4]

[1] 1 Cor- 15:44.

[2] Jn 20:27.

[3] See Eph 1:20.

[4] EHG 444-45**.

THE GRILLED FISH REPRESENTS THE FAITH OF THE MARTYRS

AUGUSTINE: While they were still flustered for joy, they were rejoicing and doubting at the same time. They were seeing and touching, and scarcely believing. What a tremendous favor grace has done us! We have neither seen nor touched, and we have believed. While they were still flustered for joy, he said, “Have you got here anything to eat? Certainly you can believe that I am alive and well if I join you in a meal.” They offered him what they had: a portion of grilled fish. Grilled fish means martyrdom, faith proved by fire. Why is it only a portion? Paul says, “If I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” [1] Imagine a complete body of martyrs. Some suffer because of love, while others suffer out of pride. Remove the pride portion, offer the love portion. That is the food for Christ. Give Christ his portion. Christ loves the martyrs who suffered out of love. SERMON 229J.3. [2]

[1] 1 Cor 13:3.

[2] WSA 3 6:305-6**.

JESUS PUTS ASIDE ALL PASSIONS

JOHN OF DAMASCUS: After his resurrection from the dead, he put aside all his passions: ruin, hunger and thirst, sleep and fatigue, and the like. Although he did taste food after his resurrection, it was not in obedience to any law of nature. He did not feel hunger, but at the appointed time, he confirmed the truth of the resurrection by showing that the flesh which had suffered and that which had risen were the same. ORTHODOX FAITH 4.1. [1]

[1] FC 37:335*.

JESUS EATS ROASTED FISH TO CONFIRM THEIR FAITH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: To produce in them a more firmly settled faith in his resurrection, he asked for something to eat. They brought a piece of broiled fish, which he took and ate in the presence of them all. He did this only to show them that the one risen from the dead was the same one who ate and drank with them during the whole previous period of time when he talked with them as a man, according to the prophet’s voice. [1] He intended them to perceive that the human body certainly does need sustenance of this kind but a spirit does not. … The power of Christ surpasses human inquiry. It is not on the level of the understanding of ordinary events. He ate a piece of fish because of the resurrection. The natural consequences of eating by no means followed in the case of Christ, as the unbeliever might object, knowing that whatsoever enters the mouth must necessarily come out into the drain. [2] The believer will not admit these quibbles into his mind but leaves the matter to the power of God. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, CHAPTER 24. [3]

[1] :1–24:53 PRELIMINARY REMARKS | ON THE GOSPEL

[2] Mt 15:17.

[3] CGSL 619**.