They only needed to read the scriptures to understand that the prophets foretold his coming and what would happen to him. Everything written about him from the very beginning, when Moses recorded God’s laws, came true. However Jesus once again, refers them to the scriptures, to see the truth in the words of the scriptures. About a third of all Catholics doubt that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist though, just like the disciples doubted that Jesus had really risen from the dead and was physically standing in front of them. We can touch, taste and see Jesus in the Eucharist we receive every week at mass. Jesus left a piece of himself here for us so that we would never doubt him and to show us that he would remain with us the rest of our lives. Unfortunately for us, we do not have Jesus’ physical body to touch and to prove to us that he is real. He even ate some fish to prove he was real. In the gospel today, Jesus was able to show his hands and feet and his flesh and bones to his disciples. Anyone is susceptible to doubting God at some point in their lives, but it is ok.

Sometimes we may be asking why God doesn’t cure someone we love, why did we lose our job, or a relationship ended or we may even ask ourselves at times if God is really real? We may doubt God too. Jesus also said to his disciples “And why do questions arise in your hearts?” We have many questions we are thinking about too when we arrive for mass each week. He wants us to trust him and be at peace in our lives, because he really doesn’t expect us to be perfect people and he knows our own faith is weak sometimes. Jesus asks his disciples, “Why are you troubled?” When we come to mass, many people have troubles and worries on their hearts too and Jesus does not want this. These are the same words the priest tells us at mass too, “Peace be with you”.

The first words he said was “Peace be with you”. He did not want his disciples to be afraid, or to question his true presence among them. However, Jesus did not want it to be this way. Especially right now when the church is under a lot of criticism from our secular world. We should pray more for Christ’s representatives on earth, for God to strengthen their faith in Him though. Leaders are not always perfect people but, neither are the people they lead. Jesus was concerned with their disbelief too. The disciples were more concerned over the peoples’ disbelief though.Īnd that is the case with the disciples in the gospel today as well. Jesus himself had given this power to his disciples. The crippled man was cured in today’s gospel so that everyone would understand that Jesus Christ really was the son of God. Miracles are usually given to people to show God’s true presence among them and for the benefit of a group of people or for the church itself. The crippled man at the beautiful gate received this miracle as a pure gift from God. Miracles are not given to people on demand though. They gave all the credit to God, acknowledging that He wanted to glorify His son Jesus, by this miracle.

Peter and John let the crowd know it would be wrong for them to take credit for this miracle. Peter and John could have let everyone think they had special powers of their own and take the credit for the miraculous cure of the crippled man but they didn’t. Everyone rushed up to question the apostles in amazement at what had happened and treated Peter and John like they were miracle workers. The first reading from the Book of Acts is about the crippled man from the beautiful gate that Peter and John cured. The readings for mass today are about two miracles that the people had trouble accepting were real.

Peace be with you meaning