Luke 24:35-48 | Royal Silver-Gilt Alms Dish | You are witnesses to this

Luke 24:35-48   You are witnesses to this

Supper at Emmaus and the Last Supper, Goldsmith Henry Greenway (free 1648), Silver gilt alms dish, Embossed with the royal Stuart arms (1603-89), Commissioned by King Charles II (1630-1685) © Buckingham Palace, London The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread. They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, and they stood there dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes. Then he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Silver-Gilt Alms Dish This magnificent alms dish, part of Her Majesty’s Royal Collections, was made for the Coronation of Charles II which took place on 23 April 1661 in Westminster Abbey. The silver-gilt alms dish is embossed in the centre with The Last Supper (and the royal Stuart arms, 1603-89). The broad rim with auricular scrollwork and oval reserves contains the scenes of 'The Washing of the Apostles' Feet', 'The Road to Emmaus’ (the reserve to the right), ‘Christ sending out the Apostles' and 'The Descending of the Holy Spirit’. In today’s Gospel reading the story of Emmaus continues from where we left off yesterday, but today it involves the wider group of Jesus’ disciples. He appears to them not just to reassure them, but He appears asking them to be His witnesses… He asking that of us too… Whilst this alms dish was made for decorative purposes to adorn the high altar at Westminster Abbey and create a dazzling display alongside similar objects, the church has a long tradition of commissioning these types of brass or silver alms dishes. The giving of alms, even from the early Church Fathers, was seen as an act of charity towards those less fortunate. The Offertory is still a key moment during mass when alms are collected to support the church, the poor, the maintenance of the building, victims of injustices, etc… According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 2462), almsgiving is ”a witness to fraternal charity" and  "a work of justice pleasing to God." Like the four reserves on this plate flanking the central scene of the Last Supper, our Christian life is four-fold: to hear His word, to accept His word, to follow His word and to spread His word… by Patrick van der Vorst