Year of the Bible
Luke 24
Access your family's weekly resource for the Year of the Bible HERE
Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 24:
It’s the morning of the first day of the week, the eighth day--Sunday, the cosmic day of new creation. Some of the women among Jesus’ followers head to Jesus’ tomb, expecting to find his body, ready for their anointing (vs. 1-3). What has happened, and what does it mean? Later that day, Jesus appears to first listen--to hear the confusion, hopes, faith, amazement, and discussion of his followers (vs. 17-24). Then, Jesus interprets the Scriptures for them, revealing himself as the fulfillment of God’s plan for all time, from Moses to the prophets (vs. 26-27, 44-45). He opens their eyes through the breaking of the bread (vs. 31-35). Jesus’ direction given at the Last Supper, “do this in memory of me,” is now being fulfilled, and continues in our participation in the Eucharist (22:19). Luke doesn't offer a specific description of what Jesus’ resurrected body looks like. However, verses 15-16, 31-32, 36-37, 41-42, and 51 give some clues to how Jesus’ glorified body functions. What is clear is that Jesus’ eternal presence to his disciples is manifested in other tangible ways--in the Scriptures, the Eucharist, reconciliation (vs. 36), and the promised “power from on high” they will receive (vs. 49). The proper response to these divine invitations? It’s the response present from the very start of Luke’s Gospel--worship and joy! (vs. 52-53).
The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 24:
The Resurrection of Jesus
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had pre pared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
The Walk to Emmaus
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles w from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 29 but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the Eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
The disciples heading to Emmaus knew their entire Bible; they knew the facts about Jesus the Nazarene. Once they allowed Jesus to speak to them their hearts burned within them. Throughout this year of the Bible, am I allowing Jesus to speak to my heart in this daily reading of scripture?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. Catholic Biblical School of Michigan (cbsmich.org/join).
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 El día siguiente al sábado, todavía
muy de mañana, llegaron al sepulcro
llevando los aromas que habían preparado;
2 y se encontraron con que la piedra
había sido removida del sepulcro.
3 Pero al entrar, no encontraron el
cuerpo del Señor Jesús. 4 Estaban desconcertadas
por este motivo, cuando se
les presentaron dos varones con vestidura
refulgente. 5 Como estaban llenas
de temor y con los rostros inclinados
hacia tierra, ellos les dijeron:
–¿Por qué buscáis entre los muertos
al que está vivo? 6 No está aquí, sino que
ha resucitado; recordad cómo os habló
cuando aún estaba en Galilea 7 diciendo
que convenía que el Hijo del Hombre
fuera entregado en manos de hombres
pecadores, y fuera crucificado y resucitase
al tercer día.
8 Entonces ellas se acordaron de sus
palabras. 9 Y al regresar del sepulcro
anunciaron todo esto a los once y a todos
los demás. 10 Eran María Magdalena,
Juana y María la de Santiago; también
las otras que estaban con ellas contaban
estas cosas a los apóstoles. 11 Y les pareció
como un desvarío lo que contaban, y
no les creían. 12 Pedro, no obstante, se levantó
y echó a correr hacia el sepulcro;
y al inclinarse vio sólo los lienzos. Entonces
se marchó a casa, admirándose
de lo ocurrido.
13 Ese mismo día, dos de ellos se dirigían
a una aldea llamada Emaús, que
distaba de Jerusalén sesenta estadios.
14 Iban conversando entre sí de todo lo
que había acontecido. 15 Y mientras comentaban
y discutían, el propio Jesús
se acercó y se puso a caminar con ellos,
16 aunque sus ojos eran incapaces de reconocerle.
17 Y les dijo:
–¿De qué veníais hablando entre vosotros
por el camino?
Y se detuvieron entristecidos. 18 Uno
de ellos, que se llamaba Cleofás, le respondió:
–¿Eres tú el único forastero en Jerusalén
que no sabe lo que ha pasado allí
estos días?
19 Él les dijo:
–¿Qué ha pasado?
Y le contestaron:
–Lo de Jesús el Nazareno, que fue
un profeta poderoso en obras y palabras
delante de Dios y ante todo el
pueblo: 20 cómo los príncipes de los sacerdotes
y nuestros magistrados lo entregaron
para ser condenado a muerte
y lo crucificaron. 21 Sin embargo nosotros
esperábamos que él sería quien redimiera
a Israel. Pero con todo, es ya el
tercer día desde que han pasado estas
cosas. 22 Bien es verdad que algunas mujeres
de las que están con nosotros nos
han sobresaltado, porque fueron al sepulcro
de madrugada 23 y, como no encontraron
su cuerpo, vinieron diciendo
que habían tenido una visión de ángeles,
que les dijeron que está vivo. 24 Después
fueron algunos de los nuestros al
sepulcro y lo hallaron tal como dijeron
las mujeres, pero a él no le vieron.
Entonces Jesús les dijo:
–¡Necios y torpes de corazón para
creer todo lo que anunciaron los Profetas!
26 ¿No era preciso que el Cristo padeciera
estas cosas y así entrara en su gloria?
27 Y comenzando por Moisés y por
todos los Profetas les interpretó en todas
las Escrituras lo que se refería a él. 28 Llegaron
cerca de la aldea adonde iban, y
él hizo ademán de continuar adelante.
29 Pero le retuvieron diciéndole:
–Quédate con nosotros, porque se
hace tarde y está ya anocheciendo.
Y entró para quedarse con ellos. 30 Y
cuando estaban juntos a la mesa tomó
el pan, lo bendijo, lo partió y se lo dio.
31 Entonces se les abrieron los ojos y le
reconocieron, pero él desapareció de su
presencia. 32 Y se dijeron uno a otro:
–¿No es verdad que ardía nuestro
corazón dentro de nosotros, mientras
nos hablaba por el camino y nos explicaba
las Escrituras?
33 Y al instante se levantaron y regresaron
a Jerusalén, y encontraron reunidos
a los once y a los que estaban con
ellos, 34 que decían:
–El Señor ha resucitado realmente y
se ha aparecido a Simón.
35 Y ellos se pusieron a contar lo que
había pasado en el camino, y cómo le
habían reconocido en la fracción del
pan.
36 Mientras ellos estaban hablando
de estas cosas, Jesús se puso en medio
y les dijo:
–La paz esté con vosotros.
37 Se llenaron de espanto y de miedo,
pensando que veían un espíritu. 38 Y les
dijo:
–¿Por qué os asustáis, y por qué admitís
esos pensamientos en vuestros corazones?
39 Mirad mis manos y mis pies:
soy yo mismo. Palpadme y comprended
que un espíritu no tiene carne ni huesos
como veis que yo tengo.
40 Y dicho esto, les mostró las manos
y los pies. 41 Como no acababan de creer
por la alegría y estaban llenos de admiración,
les dijo:
–¿Tenéis aquí algo que comer?
42 Entonces ellos le ofrecieron un trozo
de pez asado. 43 Y lo tomó y se lo comió
delante de ellos.
44 Y les dijo:
–Esto es lo que os decía cuando aún
estaba con vosotros: es necesario que
se cumpla todo lo que está escrito en la
Ley de Moisés, en los Profetas y en los
Salmos acerca de mí.
45 Entonces les abrió el entendimiento
para que comprendiesen las Escrituras.
46 Y les dijo:
–Así está escrito: que el Cristo tiene
que padecer y resucitar de entre los
muertos al tercer día, 47 y que se predique
en su nombre la conversión para
perdón de los pecados a todas las gentes,
comenzando desde Jerusalén. 48 Vosotros
sois testigos de estas cosas. 49 Y sabed
que yo os envío al que mi Padre ha
prometido. Vosotros permaneced en la
ciudad hasta que seáis revestidos de la
fuerza de lo alto.
50 Los sacó hasta cerca de Betania y
levantando sus manos los bendijo. 51 Y
mientras los bendecía, se alejó de ellos
y comenzó a elevarse al cielo. 52 Y ellos
le adoraron y regresaron a Jerusalén con
gran alegría. 53 Y estaban continuamente
en el Templo bendiciendo a Dios.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).