40 Days That Changed the World
Wouldn't you love to know more of what Jesus talked about with his disciples during the forty days between his resurrection and his ascension? We do know that whatever it was, it changed them from being frightened and fear-filled disciples to people of courage as they proclaimed Christ.
Additionally, during those forty days when Jesus "continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3 NJB), they became accustomed to celebrating the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week instead of simply attending temple worship. Consequently, in those early days after Jesus' ascension the disciples saw abundant conversions among the people, and those converted "remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and prayers" (Acts 2:42 NJB).
In the Gospels' accounts of Jesus' life we see that much of his ministry, including his post resurrection ministry, revolved around shared meals. Some meals were simple, others elaborate. Some were with friends, others with strangers. Some were with saints, others with sinners. Yet all the meals Jesus shared with others had one thing in common: each meal was an invitation to friendship with the Son of God.
For instance Peter, undoubtedly dejected by Jesus' death and his own failure in denying Jesus, decided, "I am going fishing," and his companions the other disciples agreed to go with him and keep him company. After a night of failure, and with a boat empty of fish, the risen Lord confronted his friends' sorrow and toil with his own power and abundance. He called to them and advised "throw the net out to starboard" (John 21:6 NJB) and they pulled in an abundance of fish so plentiful that it was amazing that their nets did not break.
By the time they returned to shore Jesus already had a charcoal fire burning in preparation for breakfast and offered them some fish he had prepared. The Lord matched the abundance of their catch with the abundance of his love. Instead of rebuke, Peter found reconciliation. Jesus restored community with Peter and his disciples--and restored their hope as well, by entrusting to them the task of world evangelization and the responsibility to feed his followers.
We cannot know all that Jesus did during those forty days, but we can respond to what we know. We know his love is abundant, that it includes all the world, and that he gives to each of us who belong to his Church a responsibility to participate in the task of evangelization. The forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension changed the lives of the disciples--will it change your life?
(You can learn more about this important period in the life of Jesus by completing The Words of the Risen Christ bible study offered by Emmaus Journey.)
