The themes Dr. Luke wants to emphasize in his gospel are made clear by double or sometimes even triple stories, replaying essentially the same message. The good news that God has fulfilled all prophecies in the person of Jesus Christ, the fact of the resurrection, and the imperative that the New Israel (the Church) live in the light of this new reality are all truths that bear constant repeating.

Chapter 24 contains two back-to-back stories of resurrection appearances which share parallel developments. While this week's gospel text focuses on Jesus' post-resurrection appearance before his disciples, the similarities between it and the overlapping story of Jesus accompanying the two witnesses on the Emmaus Road are significant.

Both begin with an unexpected and somewhat distressing appearan…