Hearth & Altar

The Emmaus disciples are still telling their story when Jesus himself stands in their midst. Peace be with you. They are terrified. They think it's a ghost.

Jesus says: why are you troubled? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.

They still can't believe it - for joy. So Jesus asks the most human question in the Gospels: have you anything here to eat? They give him baked fish. He eats it in front of them.

The Resurrection is physical. Bodily. Jesus has flesh and bones. He has wounds you can touch. He eats fish. Christianity is not a ghost story. It's a fish story. The Risen Christ has a body, and that body has scars, and that body eats dinner.

Then Jesus opens their minds to understand the Scriptures - everything in Moses, the prophets, and the psalms pointed to this. The Christ would suffer and rise on the third day. Repentance and forgiveness would be preached to all nations. You are witnesses.

Peter's sermon in Acts carries the same message: the author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses.

For families: the Risen Jesus is not a ghost. He's real. He eats. He shows his wounds. He sits at the table. When your family gathers at the table tonight, know this: the Risen Christ who ate fish with his disciples is present at your table too. He's not a memory. He's here.