Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/766

 The same  evening  they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  where  they found the  eleven  gathered  together,  who  exclaimed:  “The  Lord is risen  indeed,  and  hath  appeared  to  Simon."  The  two  disciples now  told  the  apostles  how  they  also  had  seen  the  Lord,  and  how they  had  known  Him  in  the  breaking  of  bread.

Further proofs  of  the  Resurrection. The  Lord  had  risen  indeed, for He  had  appeared  a)  to  Peter,  and  b)  to  the  two  disciples  on  the road to  Emmaus,  conversing  with  these  two  last  for  a considerable  time, and instructing  them  in  the  Faith. These form  the  third  and  fourth apparitions of  Jesus  after  His  Resurrection. His sudden  mode  of  disappearance proved  that  His  Body  was  glorified,  subtle  and  agile.

The apparition  to  Peter. Our  Lord  appeared  to  St.  Peter  before any of  the  other  apostles  1. to distinguish  him  as  the  chosen  head  of His  Church;  2. to repay  him  for  the  greater  love  he  bore  Jesus  than the others;  3. to assure  him  of  His  forgiveness,  and  to  show  to  the whole world  how  pleasing  to  Him  were  Peter’s  tears  of  contrition,  and how willing  He  is  to  forgive  repentant  sinners.

The doctrine  of  the  apostles  is  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ. We see in this  chapter  how  our  Lord  Himself  instructed  His  apostles  and  disciples in  the  understanding  of  the  Scriptures. All the  explanations  of the  types,  prophecies  &amp;c. which are  to  be  found  in  the  writings  and discourses of  the  apostles  are,  therefore,  to  be  regarded  as  the  explanations of  our  Lord  Himself.

Jesus Christ  is  the  promised  Redeemer, for  in  Him  and  through Him was  fulfilled  all  that  the  prophets  foretold  about  the  Redeemer.

Faith must  be  entire.  Our  Lord  rebuked  the  disciples  because  they, like the  rest  of  the  people  who  were  misguided  by  the  Pharisees,  believed only  in  those  prophecies  which  treated  of  the  glory  and  power of the  Messias,  and  ignored  those  which  related  to  His  humiliations, sufferings and  death;  and  He  expressly  demanded  of  them  that  they should believe  all  that  God  had  revealed  through  the  prophets. So now God  requires  of  us  Catholics  to  believe,  not  only  the  truths  which suit our  inclinations,  nor  again  only  such  truths  as  the  Church  has