Happy Easter! I love today’s Gospel passage and the passage that immediately precedes this one (The Road to Emmaus). There are so many beautiful proofs of the Catholic faith in just these few Bible verses. Today’s Gospel hints at a core Catholic teaching: The Resurrection of the Body. Jesus proves He is not just a ghost by inviting the disciples to touch him and feel flesh and bones. A ghost cannot eat; Jesus takes fish and eats it in their presence. With these actions, Jesus is obviously present in His human body.
Later John tells us: “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) While we cannot know everything that lies ahead of us regarding the joys of Heaven, we do know that we will be like Jesus. Therefore, we know that our bodies will be resurrected at the end of time to live in Heaven forever.
As someone who has struggled with weight and body image, this belief is jarring at first. I want to shed my body forever when I die, not get it back! However, we will get our bodies back, but they will be glorified bodies. Things that caused health issues and struggles in this life will no longer be in Heaven. Jesus has his wounds from the Crucifixion on His body, but they no longer hurt him.
Today, let us give thanks for the gift of our bodies. Let us realize they are good and made in the image of God. And let’s take care of them the best we can on this earth, because the Holy Spirit dwells in them.
¡Feliz Pascua! Me encanta el pasaje del Evangelio de hoy y el pasaje que precede inmediatamente a este (El camino a Emaús). Hay tantas pruebas hermosas de la fe católica en solo estos pocos versículos de la Biblia. El Evangelio de hoy insinúa una enseñanza católica fundamental: la Resurrección del Cuerpo. Jesús demuestra que no es solo un fantasma al invitar a los discípulos a tocarlo y sentir carne y huesos. Un fantasma no puede comer; Jesús toma pescado y lo come en presencia de ellos. Con estas acciones, Jesús está obviamente presente en Su cuerpo humano.
Más adelante, Juan nos dice: “Amados, ahora somos hijos de Dios; aún no se ha manifestado lo que hemos de ser. Sabemos que cuando se manifieste, seremos semejantes a él, porque lo veremos tal como él es” (1 Juan 3,2). Si bien no podemos saber todo lo que nos espera en cuanto a las alegrías del Cielo, sí sabemos que seremos como Jesús. Por lo tanto, sabemos que nuestros cuerpos resucitarán al final de los tiempos para vivir en el Cielo para siempre.
Como alguien que ha luchado con el peso y la imagen corporal, esta creencia me resulta chocante al principio. Quiero deshacerme de mi cuerpo para siempre cuando muera, ¡no recuperarlo! Sin embargo, recuperaremos nuestros cuerpos, pero serán cuerpos glorificados. Las cosas que causaron problemas de salud y batallas en esta vida ya no existirán en el Cielo. Jesús tiene sus heridas de la Crucifixión en Su cuerpo, pero ya no le duelen.
Hoy, demos gracias por el don de nuestros cuerpos. Reconozcamos que son buenos y están hechos a imagen de Dios. Y cuidémoslos lo mejor que podamos en esta tierra, porque el Espíritu Santo habita en ellos.
Mary Thissen is a St. Louis native living in East Central Illinois with her husband and children. She is blessed with twin boys Earthside and four children now living in Heaven. When she is not working as a healthcare data analyst or caring for her boys, she enjoys studying and writing about the Catholic faith and ministering to women who are suffering through miscarriage or infertility. You can connect with Mary on Instagram @waitingonmiracles.
Feature Image Credit: Gabin Vallet, unsplash.com/photos/man-in-black-t-shirt-and-black-shorts-running-on-road-during-daytime-J154nEkpzlQ
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
The post The Resurrection of the Body / La resurrección del cuerpo appeared first on Diocesan.