Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 24, 2025

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture Text: Luke 24:35-48

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel reading is drawn from Luke and recounts Jesus’ appearance to the disciples just as the two who had encountered Jesus on the Road to Emmaus were sharing their experience. Jesus quells their doubts physically, at first, showing them His bodily wounds from crucifixion and then eating before them. Then Jesus quells their spiritual doubts by helping them to connect all that came before Him in scripture that He had to fulfill. Finally, He called them to preach the Good News to all nations in His name.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What would quell my doubts?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we come to You this day full of praise and thanksgiving during this Easter season as we celebrate the resurrection of your beloved Son, Jesus. We seek to follow after Him and to bring your loving salvation to all in His name. Send your Spirit to grow our faith to overflowing, to open our mouths so that we might speak of your great love and of Christ as our Savior. Grant this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.