Mary Magdalene encountered Him. The travellers on the road to Emmaus encountered Him.

In today’s Gospel, after witnessing the harrowing events of the death of their most beloved friend, these disciples have their own encounter. Standing in their midst, encouraging them to look at His hands and feet, to touch Him, to feed Him, Jesus wanted to reassure them that He was truly alive.

He appeared amongst them to lead them to the certainty of His Resurrection, to make sense of what was written in the Scriptures and to reveal the reality of eternal life for them.  These life-changing encounters revealed the glory of the cross – that death does lead to life and that the cross does lead to victory over everything that stands in the way of His love and truth.

Do we yearn for our own life-changing encounter? Do our hearts burn with desire for His intimate invitation to touch, to see, to understand?  For over 2000 years, Jesus has been alive and truly present in all the tabernacles of the world.  How often do we walk or drive past a church and not even think of Him?  It is He who is burning with desire for us to come and visit Him and open ourselves to His friendship.  Just as a thirsty person will drink deeply when they find some clean, pure water, let us not miss our chance to receive the comfort, the reassurance, and the deep love of the same Risen Lord. Let us be ready for our own sacred encounter.

by Margaret O’Shea