St John the Beloved Maronite Catholic Church

Contact Us

Mass Times

63 George St Mt Druitt NSW 2770

Ph: (02) 9625 8985 Fax: (02) 9625 9779

Email: sjb@maronite.org.au

Web: www.sjb.org.au

© 2009 St John the Beloved Parish, Mt Druitt

If you would like your event put in the parish announcements, or you would like to assist us at the church you can email the church secretary at sjb@maronite.org.au

6th Sunday of Resurrection

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

 

It is one thing to disbelieve, it is quite another to disbelieve because of joy. The heart is too small all at once to take in the great joy. And therefore Jesus makes use of all patient kindness toward His apostles, giving them time, above all, to get their bearings, and to let the truth gradually penetrate into their understanding. He asked them whether they had anything eatable at hand, and they brought Him a piece of cooked or broiled fish. The fact of His eating before them restored the former sense of nearness to them. It was familiar. It was real and they were now ready to listen to Him. Our minds, just like the disciples before us, must be opened to fully understand this Easter miracle. Our hearts are too small to take in the great joy all on our own. God must work that work in us. And being opened to understanding this is what we find: that Jesus did indeed have to suffer and die and rise.