24 April 2025 - Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Homily
The most surprising thing in this Gospel is the fear that seizes the eleven Apostles and their companions. Shortly before, the disciples who had met Jesus on the road to Emmaus and recognised him in the breaking of the bread had returned to tell the Apostles about these things. They had replied: ‘It is true! The Lord has risen, and he has appeared to Simon’. Before that there had been the testimony of the women who came to the tomb on Easter morning. So everyone already knew that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Suddenly, even as they were talking together about Jesus, he appeared among them and simply said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And that was enough to frighten them and fill them with fear. What is the source of this fear?