You know, life can be like a puzzle [show a puzzle piece]. We have all these pieces in our lives that somehow must fit together, but it’s hard to figure it all out.
Sometimes the pieces fit perfectly, and life goes smoothly. At other times, we can only see the gaps and empty spaces and wonder what’s missing. Or we look at one particular part of our lives [show one puzzle piece] and wonder how this will fit.
The disciples in the gospel were confused. The story happens right after Jesus sits down with two of the disciples on the way to Emmaus and as the gospel. today, begins . . . they recognize Jesus when he breaks the bread with them. And then he appears to the group. The gospel says they were startled and terrified and thought Jesus was a ghost. Because they were still dealing with grief that their good friend and leader died a terrible death. And then he appears. What? This is too good to be true.
Jesus shows them his wounds. It means that he relates to our wounds. He knows about wounds.
It’s like a hard puzzle to put together. Think of your life . . . you have this problem [show a puzzle piece] and it’s painful, or embarrassing, and just hard. And you are invited NOT to stay focused on the one piece, but to look at the whole picture.
Our 1st Communicants have a puzzle pieces. [I invite them up and have them name their puzzle piece] Each piece is find but doesn’t make sense until we put it together. The entire puzzle here [show the 8’ long puzzle] depicts the Mass.
The entire puzzle depicts the Mass. And each part is important. We can say I like the readings, or I don’t like the homily, or a just want to have singing and nothing else. But it all fits together. Just as we all fit together . . . and each of us becomes a piece of the puzzle that is called the Body of Christ.
Each part of your life is important. That one problem, or hurt, is not your whole life . . . it’s just your life situation. Don’t stay stuck and focus on one part. Because in the end it shall all turn out. It will all fit together.
Jesus changes the disciples’ gloominess into joy. Jesus changes the darkness into light. The bread is changed into Jesus, telling us that just as he had to suffer and die . . . you will also face suffering (and we’re all going to die) but that is never the end of the story. In the story, Jesus says, “touch me.” I think a better way to think of that is to have Jesus say, “Come here, let me give you a hug? So, come . . . receive this hug of Jesus. Eat hope. Receive this body of Christ that says you’ll be OK and you’re not alone.