Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 / 1 John 2:1-5 / Luke 24:35-48
The act of eating is often seen as a casual act, and we won't think too much about it.
But a number of processes are activated in the act of eating. The mouth opens with the help of the muscles so that we can put food into our mouth.
The taste buds are activated, the jaw moves and the teeth chew the food, and after which the food is swallowed.
Besides and before all that, we also choose what we want to eat, and also what we should not eat.
But eating is not just about consuming food. Eating is an act of life. We eat to Live.
Our stomach will tell us that we are hungry, and hence we need to eat something, otherwise we may end up with some health issues.
And going beyond that, there is the social dimension in eating.
No doubt, a person can eat in solitude, but that would give the impression of loneliness.
Because, when it comes to eating, there is a social and communal expression in it.
Even with simple home cooked food that is eaten with family and friends, relationships are renewed and deepened.
In other words, eating with others is a celebration of life and relationships.
In the gospel, when the Risen Lord Jesus appeared to His disciples, they were alarmed and frightened. They thought they were seeing a ghost.
Jesus greeted them with peace, and showed them His hands and side, and even ask them to touch Him.
But they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded.
So Jesus asked them for something to eat. They offered Him a piece of grilled fish which He took and ate before their eyes.
That act of eating the grilled fish dispelled the fears and doubts of the disciples.
That simple act of eating assured the disciples that Jesus is real and alive.
But even before that, the two disciples had told their story of what had happened on the road, and how they recognized Jesus at the breaking of bread.
So, it was earlier, at a meal setting, the Jesus had revealed Himself to the two disciples.
Today, as we come for Mass, we are also going to partake of a meal.
At Holy communion, we are going to receive the Body of Christ.
It is Jesus Himself who prepared this sacred meal as He offers us the heart of all meals, and that is His Body.
In receiving the Body of Christ, we receive life and love from the Risen Lord Jesus.
We become the living members of His Body, and filled with love, we go forth to share that life and love.
And this brings us to think about our family and whether we have family meals.
We can say that a family that eats together will stay together.
It may be difficult to have a family meal because of the business of our work and schedules.
But it is so necessary, if we think that family life and relationships are important.
It is also the same when it comes to Mass. If we think that our faith is important and necessary, we will come for Mass, and we will also invite others to come back for Mass.
Because at Mass, when we partake of the Sacred meal at Holy Communion, Jesus will tell us that He is real and alive.
And He will also have a revelation for us about ourselves.
That as we have our family meals and other social meals, He will be present, and He will make each meal, a meal of life and love, a meal of forgiveness and reconciliation.