Page:Goffinesdevoutin00goffuoft.djvu/230

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might be healed, and we might know how true is the resurrection, and how firmly founded our faith.


GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 36-47.

At that time: Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and saith to them: Peace be to you: it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frighted, supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? See My hands and feet, that it is I Myself; handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see Me to have. And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, He said:. Have you here anything to eat? And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish and a honeycomb. And when He had eaten before them, taking the remains He gave to them. And He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then He opened their understanding, that they might under stand the Scriptures. And He said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead the third day: and that penance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all nations.

Why does Jesus greet His disciples with the words, Peace be to you"?

1 . Because He came to restore to men that peace with God, with themselves, with their neighbor, which sin had destroyed. 2. Because peace is a mark of the children of God, as discord is of sinners. 3. Because peace is the greatest of all goods. Therefore it is that He will have His apostles, after His example, give the greeting of peace on entering a house. Finally, 4. Because He desired to encourage His disciples to confidence by His friendliness.

Why did Our Saviour retain the marks of His wounds after His resurrection?

1. To show that it was the same body which had been wounded during His passion, and to show that He was really risen from the dead. 2. To teach us that we too shall, in like