FIRST READING
Acts 3:1–10
Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer. And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 105:1–2, 3–4, 6–7, 8–9 (3b)
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord. or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice. or R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; Seek to serve him constantly.
R. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice. or R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice. or R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations— Which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice. or R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
Psalm 118:24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Luke 24:13–35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
REFLECTIONS:
Why was it difficult for the disciples to recognize
the risen Lord? Jesus' death scattered his disciples and shattered their
hopes and dreams. They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.
They saw the cross as defeat and could not comprehend the empty tomb
until the Lord appeared to them and gave them understanding. Jesus
chided the disciples on the road to Emmaus for their slowness of heart
to believe what the scriptures had said concerning the Messiah. They did
not recognize the risen Jesus until he had broken bread with them. Do you
recognize the Lord in his word and in the breaking of the bread?
St. Augustine of Hippo (5th century) reflects on the dimness of their
perception: "They were so disturbed when they saw him hanging on the cross
that they forgot his teaching, did not look for his resurrection, and failed
to keep his promises in mind" (Sermon 235.1). "Their
eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking
of the bread. And thus, in accordance with the state of their minds, which
was still ignorant of the truth (that the Christ would die and rise again",
their eyes were similarly hindered. It was not that the truth himself was
misleading them, but rather that they were themselves unable to perceive
the truth." (From The Harmony of the Gospels, 3.25.72)
How often do we fail to recognize the Lord when he speaks to our hearts
and opens his mind to us? The Risen Lord is ever ready to speak his word
to us and to give us understanding of his ways. Do you listen attentively
to the Word of God and allow his word to change and transform you?
"Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart to recognize your presence
with me and to understand the truth of your saving word. Nourish me with
your life-giving word and with the bread of life."
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