10 April 2027 · Syro-Malabar Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malankara Rite · Latin Rite · മലയാളം
“Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39
Paul's letter to the Colossians describes the new life of those who have been raised with Christ in Baptism. Just before today's passage he tells them to put on, like new clothes, “compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” and to forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven them. Then comes the garment that holds all the others together: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Love is the belt that keeps the other virtues from falling off. Then Paul gives three gifts for a Christian home and community. The first: “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” The word ‘rule’ is the word for an umpire in the games: when we are pulled in different directions, the peace of Christ is to make the call. The second: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Not visit occasionally, but dwell, live in the house, have its own room. The third: “with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” A Christian family that prays together, reads the Gospel together and sings together is a small church. Kerala Christian homes have long kept this at dusk, when the lamp is lit and the family gathers for evening prayer: that moment is Colossians 3 lived out. Saturday is also the day the Church honours the Blessed Virgin Mary, who kept all the words of her Son and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19): she is the model of the word of Christ dwelling richly in a home.
Paul ends with a rule that covers all of life: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” There is nothing too ordinary to be done in the name of Jesus: cooking, studying, driving, nursing, ploughing. And everything is to be done with thanksgiving. The Greek word for giving thanks is the root of the word Eucharist; the Syriac word Qurbana means the offering. A Christian life is meant to become one long Qurbana: an offering of everything to the Father, through the Son, with thanks.
In the Gospel we are back on Easter evening in Jerusalem. The two disciples from Emmaus are telling their story when “Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” The disciples were terrified: “They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Jesus answers with a tenderness that is almost humorous: “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Then, because they are still disbelieving for joy, he asks, “Have you anything here to eat?” “They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.” Luke insists on the body because the faith of the Church depends on it. The Resurrection is not a beautiful idea, a memory, or a vision; the One who was crucified is alive in his own body, glorified and no longer subject to death, yet the same body that bears the wounds. That is why Christians bury their dead with reverence and wait for the resurrection of the body. And the One who ate fish with his friends gives himself to us as food at every Holy Qurbana: his true Body and Blood, risen and living.
Theme: “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself.”
Love above all, the peace of Christ as umpire, a home where the word dwells and songs are sung, and the real body of the Risen Lord.
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” Song of Songs 8:7
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14
Apply: Forgive one hurt from this week before you sleep tonight.
“the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:26
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
Apply: Before a decision this week, ask what keeps Christ's peace in your heart.
“O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:16
Apply: Keep family evening prayer with a Gospel reading and a hymn every day this week.
“and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God,” Job 19:26
“Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39
Apply: Pray at the grave of a loved one in hope of the resurrection.
The Risen Lord is no ghost: he lives in his glorified body and gives himself to us as food.
Let love clothe us, his peace rule us, and his word dwell in our homes.
Take-home resolution: This week, keep family evening prayer daily with the Gospel and a hymn, let Christ's peace decide, and do everything in his name with thanks.
Dear friends, Paul tells the Colossians: Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Love is the belt that holds all the other virtues in place.
He gives three gifts for a Christian home: let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts; let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; and sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God with gratitude.
When a Kerala family lights the lamp at dusk and gathers to pray, read the Gospel and sing, that is Colossians 3 lived out. And Paul adds: whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks. Our whole life can become a Qurbana, an offering with thanks.
In the Gospel the Risen Lord stands among his disciples and says, Peace be with you. They think he is a ghost. He says: Look at my hands and my feet; touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones. And he eats a piece of fish before them.
Our faith is not in a ghost or an idea. Jesus is risen in his own body, glorified, still bearing his wounds. And the same Lord gives us his true Body and Blood at the altar.
Tonight, let us light the lamp, pray and sing together at home, and let his peace rule in our hearts. Alleluia! Amen.
Children, when Jesus came back to his friends after he rose, they thought he was a ghost! But he said, ‘Touch me! Look at my hands!’ And he ate some fish. Jesus is really alive!
Tonight at family prayer, sing a happy hymn to Jesus, because he is risen.
Lord Jesus Christ, you stood among your frightened disciples and said, Peace be with you; you showed them your hands and your feet and ate before them. Strengthen our faith in your true Resurrection and in the resurrection of the body. Clothe us with love above all, let your peace rule in our hearts, and let your word dwell in our homes richly, so that with grateful hearts we may sing to the Father and do everything in your name. With the Blessed Virgin Mary, who kept your words in her heart, we praise you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen. Alleluia!