new, risen life
“Touch Me.” —Luke 24:39
“Touch Me,” Jesus said to the apostles (Lk 24:39). “Do not touch Me,” Jesus said to Mary Magdalene (see Jn 20:17). These statements are not conflicting. Jesus knows what each person needs. St. Mary Magdalene wanted her relationship with Jesus to continue as it had always been. Mary needed a new relationship with Jesus, for He was now risen. Pre-risen touching no longer would work with a risen Lord. The apostles were ashamed of abandoning Jesus (Mk 14:50). Jesus wanted to restore them to their former status as His beloved apostles, to send them out with assurance and Resurrection-power. Their relationship with Jesus needed a new, risen touch (see 1 Jn 1:1).
Can we receive Jesus’ risen peace when we rely on the things of this world, that is, mammon? Jesus taught that we cannot have two masters, God and mammon (Mt 6:24). The Resurrection of Jesus brings a power not of this world. We are now to rely on “things above” (Col 3:2) rather than on things of earth. Resurrection-power and risen life are incompatible with reliance on earthly lifestyles (see Mt 9:16-17).
Jesus knows exactly what you need at every moment. What would He tell you now? Would you be ready to hear and obey Him? Does your love of money smother the power of God? Could you be moving in the power of the Spirit if you renounced the things of this world? (see Lk 14:33) Unplug from dependence on worldly means. Plug into Resurrection-power, in the name of Jesus.
Prayer: Father, open my mind “to the understanding of the Scriptures” and of risen life (Lk 24:45).
Promise: “You put to death the Author of life. But God raised Him from the dead, and we are His witnesses.” —Acts 3:15
Praise: “O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is Your name over all the earth!” (Ps 8:2)
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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