Luke 24:35-48
“Do you have anything here to eat?”
And they explained the things that were done on the way, and how they had recognized him at the breaking of the bread.
Then, while they were talking about these things, Jesus stood in their midst, And he said to them: “Peace be with you. It is I. Do not be afraid.” Yet truly, they were very disturbed and terrified, supposing that they saw a spirit.
And he said to them: “Why are you disturbed, and why do these thoughts rise up in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Look and touch. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
Then, while they were still in disbelief and in wonder out of joy, he said, “Do you have anything here to eat?” And they offered him a piece of roasted fish and a honeycomb. And when he had eaten these in their sight, taking up what was left, he gave it to them.
And he said to them: “These are the words that I spoke to you when I was still with you, because all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms about me.”
Then he opened their mind, so that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said to them: “For so it is written, and so it was necessary, for the Christ to suffer and to rise up from the dead on the third day, and, in his name, for repentance and the remission of sins to be preached, among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And you are witnesses of these things. And I am sending the Promise of my Father upon you. But you must stay in the city, until such time as you are clothed with power from on high.
What do the Fathers say?
St John CHRYSOSTOM. He did not show Himself to all at the same time, in order that He might sow the seeds of faith. For he who had first seen Him and was sure, told it to the rest, thus preparing the mind of the hearer for the sight,
He needed the most faithful soul to first receive this sight, as it might be least disturbed by the unexpected appearance. And therefore He is first seen by Peter, because he who first confessed Christ should first deserve to see His resurrection., and also ,because he had denied Him He wished to see him first, to console him, lest he should despair.
But after Peter, He appeared to the rest, at one time fewer in number, at another more.
The report of Christ’s resurrection being published every where by the Apostles, and while the anxiety of the disciples was easily awakened to see Christ, He that was so much desired comes, and is revealed to them that were seeking and expecting Him. Not in a doubtful manner, but with the clearest evidence, He presents Himself, as it is said, Then, while they were talking about these things, Jesus stood in their midst.
St AMBROSE. Therefore I think it most natural that our Lord indeed instructed His disciples, that they should see Him in Galilee, but that He first presents Himself as they remained still in the assembly through fear.
St THEOPHYLACT. The Lord then standing in the midst of the disciples, first with His accustomed salutation of “peace,” allays their restlessness, showing that He is the same Master who delighted in the word wherewith He also fortified them, when He sent them to preach. And he said to them, “Peace be with you. It is I. Do not be afraid.” .
The Venerable BEDE. The disciples had known Christ to be really man, having been so long a time with Him; but after He was dead, they do not believe that the real flesh could rise again from the grave on the third day. They think then that they see the spirit which He gave up at His passion. and “they were very disturbed and terrified.
St CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. Here then was a most evident sign that He whom they now see was none other but the same whom they had seen dead on the cross, and lain in the sepulchre, who knew every thing that was in man.
Now our Lord testifying that death was overcome, and human nature had now in Christ put on incorruption, first shows them His hands and His feet, and the print of the nails; that He might certify to them that the same body which had suffered rose again.
But to confirm them still more, He asked for something to eat.