While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ (Luke 24:41)
I can totally relate to Jesus here. I am always hungry. Even as a kid, I remember my mom getting frustrated with me because I kept asking, “What do we have to eat?” I guess I am blessed (or cursed) with a high metabolism.
We can understand why Jesus would be hungry. He hasn’t eaten in over three days. It’s Easter evening. The disciples are hiding out in Jerusalem. That morning some women claimed they went to the tomb and found it empty, prompting Peter to go and see for himself. Then two disciples were on the road to Emmaus when Jesus walked along with them. But they didn’t recognize it was Jesus until he broke bread with them. Then they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened and all of sudden, “Jesus himself stood among them.”
Luke tells us the disciples were frightened, and thought they were seeing a ghost. Jesus shows them the wounds on his hands and feet and invites them to touch him, “for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Then Luke says they were filled with joy, disbelief, and wonder, and Jesus asked them for something to eat.
Joy, disbelief, and wonder. All at the same time. Not joy, firm conviction, and uncompromising faith. Joy, disbelief, and wonder.
And in their joy, disbelief, and wonder, they carried out the very first ministry the church ever did: they fed the hungry. “Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat?”
Ours is a living, growing faith. Rather than focus on finished convictions or believing the right things, we can live in joyful wonder as we work things out in life. And as we live and grow, we can be about the work of feeding the truly hungry and proclaiming the beloved community for a world so very much in need.
Now excuse me while I get a snack.
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