Luke 24: 35-48 You Are Witnessess

There is a Joan Osborne song, One of Us, which asks what would it be like if God came and were one of us, who would know?  Would he have friends, or be an outcast?  In breaking open the Word with friends yesterday something was mentioned about Christ Jesus' humor.  He had a good sense of humor and almost plays with his friends in a loving manner this week as earlier in the stories of Mary Magdalene, and those on the road to Emmaus.  Today we almost get that sense again as he comes to the disciples in today's reading, in the midst of them, almost making them jump as he suddenly appears.  He loves them, and they him.  We laugh and enjoy our friends.  Laughter and teasing are a part of good relationships and helps to forge a close bond. 

Some of the disciples have seen the Risen Lord.  Some have not.  Christ Jesus stands in their midst.  They are confused, their reality is being tested.  Jesus asks, "Why are you troubled?  Why do so many questions arise in your hearts...?" 

It is almost like Jesus is telling them that he is still the same person even though he has died and resurrected, that nothing has changed.  He still loves them and is their friend.   Everything that he has ever told them in the past is true, but now he invites them to understand everything they shared together, every experience, every conversation in a new way, and to continue having those shared experiences he breaks the bread and shares the fish, eating it with them, and conversing like they always did.  He reminds them that he had a mission was to fulfill "what was written of him in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms": that "the repentance, for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations...that they are witness of these things."

Matthew 23:1-12 Practice what you preach.

"Do not follow their example for the preach, but do not practice." Jesus says in today's Gospel.  People can be such hypocrites.  The Pharisees and scribes are not exception.  We use the idiom, 'Practice what you preach.' Obviously we as a people in general don't like people who make themselves the exception to the rule. 

Jesus is really calling to be aware of our actions and words.  Perhaps it is good to put on a persona of greatness in some aspects of our lives for business, but you know what, Jesus is reminding to live in reality and remember that we're just human: we all put our pants on the same way, one leg at a time.