REFLECTION
The central point to this Gospel is
the instruction which Jesus gives to the
disciples to continue his work and mission:
to take the Good News of the Gospel to the
whole world and to all creation.
He warns that this task may not be easy
and that some will reject the message
the disciples bring, but for those who do
accept it the rewards will be great.
They will overcome all that impedes
or threatens life and will be given great gifts.
In the preaching of the Gospel, Jesus is still
present working with them.
The disciples unquestioningly carry out the
instructions they are given.
The preaching and the sacramental life of the
Christian Church is the continuation of the
presence of Jesus in the world.

REFLECTION
The heart of today’s Gospel lies in Jesus
repeating himself: “Love one another”.
The model for this love is the love that Jesus
showed towards all those who follow him.
Jesus has changed the way in which
God relates to human beings.
We are no longer servants of God
but are drawn into deep intimacy and
friendship through the Son.
This new relationship is not dependent
on our choice or will.
God has chosen us and we are now
commissioned to bear fruit, fruit that will last.
The Christian command to love
is not a vague feeling of goodwill,
it is a love which suffers all,
and may demand great sacrifice.
The command to love as Jesus loved
may be the most difficult test of our Christianity.
This is how the presence of Jesus is experienced
even in His absence.

REFLECTION
King David had been a shepherd as a boy so the
image of the Shepherd Messiah underlies this
text. But the intimacy of Jesus’ relationship
with his flock goes beyond even this.
The Gospel is a statement of the seriousness of
Jesus’ commitment to the Father’s will and His
self-giving love for humankind.
Jesus’ life is freely given for His flock.
It is sometimes thought that Jesus died to satisfy
the will of the Father imposed on the Son.
This is not so. Jesus’ gift was a free gift because
he responded at all times to that which was most
profound in him. The Father’s love which he
wished to make known to the world.
It is generous, self-giving love for others.

REFLECTION
King David had been a shepherd as a boy so the
image of the Shepherd Messiah underlies this
text. But the intimacy of Jesus’ relationship
with his flock goes beyond even this.
The Gospel is a statement of the seriousness of
Jesus’ commitment to the Father’s will and His
self-giving love for humankind.
Jesus’ life is freely given for His flock.
It is sometimes thought that Jesus died to satisfy
the will of the Father imposed on the Son.
This is not so. Jesus’ gift was a free gift because
he responded at all times to that which was most
profound in him. The Father’s love which he
wished to make known to the world.
It is generous, self-giving love for others.

REFLECTION
In the Gospel of Luke all the events of Easter
run into one another and the whole of chapter 24
should be read as a continuous narrative.
Beginning with the discovery of the empty tomb,
the resurrection narrative follows the disciples
as they move away from what had happened
in Jerusalem, but they encounter
the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.
In witnessing to this, Christ is present among
them again until he finally returns to the Father.
Jesus goes to great lengths to reassure them
that he is the same Jesus who was with them
during his ministry.
Something in his nature has changed
but he is still ‘flesh and bone’.
There is continuity with the Jesus they knew
but also now, something ‘other-worldly’
which they cannot quite comprehend.
Jesus is the same but somehow transformed.
Jesus’ journey is about to be completed
with his return the Father,
but their journey is about to begin.
Now the disciples must journey from Jerusalem
to all nations witnessing to what they
have seen and heard, preaching the good news
of repentance and the forgiveness of sin.