When the apostles saw the risen Christ on the evening of His Resurrection, "they thought they were seeing a ghost" (Lk 24:37). Jesus tried to prove He was real by showing them His hands and feet, inviting them to touch Him, and eating a piece of fish (Lk 24:39-43). Nonetheless, the risen Christ didn't seem real enough to cause them to overcome their fears and change their lives.
We too have difficulties getting in touch with the reality of the risen Christ because in many ways we don't face reality. For instance, millions deny the reality that pregnant women have babies in their wombs. They choose to pretend the baby is not a human being. Our culture seems to be one long series of attempts to escape from reality by using alcohol, drugs, TV, pornography, promiscuity, video games, computer games, mind-games, etc. We even have entertainment called "virtual reality," whereby one can create their own "reality." Denial, in the psychological sense of the word, permeates our society. We deny the existence of objective truth, sin, and responsibility for our actions. Many pretend that they'll live forever and never face Judgment Day.
In a world so out of touch with reality, it's understandable that the risen Christ may seem a ghost. We are just projecting our own unreality onto Him. The risen Jesus is definitely real, but are we? Have we consigned ourselves to a ghostly existence of selfishness, self-deception, and sin? When we "get real," we'll find out that Jesus has always been real. Get real.
| PRAYER: | Father, I repent of living in a shadowy, ghostly tomb of sin. I repent to rise with Christ. |
| PROMISE: | "When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him to you first to bless you by turning you from your evil ways." –Acts 3:26 |
| PRAISE: | Alleluia! "How glorious is Your name," risen Jesus, "over all the earth!" (Ps 8:2) |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College