April 30 2006

Lk 24:35-48 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them 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. Today Msgr Maulk gave a homily about this reading talking about faith and evidence. Do we need evidence to have faith, do we need evidence to support faith. I had just listened to a lecture by Dr James Hall of U of Richmond speaking about faith and evidence the night before. The coincidence of timing of having read or studied or heard something and that day or the very next having that exact topic, subject or concept come into an important religious talk is for me more than coincidence but the way of God always giving me what I need when I need it. The evidence is always there but I think sometimes it is subtle and what is present or omnipresent is not always percieved. The overlap and obvious logical fit of the homily with the lecture that I studied the night before was to me evidence of being nurtured and loved by God. Some may say it is coincidence however my life has so many of these overlaps that I believe it is more than chance but a matter of intention from God.