THE PURPOSE OF THE SUFFERING, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS WAS TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS
The common theme of today’s readings is the challenge to adjust our lives to the living presence of the risen Lord as we grow daily more aware of God’s presence within us and all around us as the Holy Spirit. This awareness should strengthen our hope in His promises, bring us to true repentance for our sins and the renewal of our lives, and lead us to bear witness to Christ by our works of charity. The readings also remind us that the purpose of the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus was to save us from our sins.
Today's Gospel describes Jesus’ appearance on the evening of His Resurrection to his apostles who were in the locked Upper Room of the Cenacle. We see Jesus remove the doubts of his apostles about his Resurrection by inviting them to touch him and by eating a piece of cooked fish. Jesus explains to them how the prophecies had been fulfilled in him. Then he commissions them to bear witness to him and preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name” after receiving the Holy Spirit.
Excerpt from Homilies of Fr. Anthony Kadavil on Lk 24:35-48 available at http://stjohngrandbay.org