A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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.
REFLECTION: "With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him..."
Christos Anesti
Jesus appeared to his two disciples as they were walking toward Emmaus. They were disillusioned and preoccupied in their conversation with this stranger. There is no hope as they were living in the past. They did not understand what had happened; how all their hopes had vanished. But after being with Jesus they were on fire –their hearts were burning as the Scriptures were explained by Jesus. The disciples recognize Him from the Last Supper they shared with Him, in the breaking of the bread. And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.
Do we sometimes find ourselves disillusioned, discouragesd, hopeless? Is our apostolate lacking enthusiasm? Are we coming across negative people and not sure how to deal with them? Is our spiritual life suffering especially during this homebound order?
We miss communion with Jesus just as the disciples did. And our good shepherds remind us that we are presently in the middle of salvation history. Stop and allow the scriptures to unfold in front of us.
Our good shepherds help us with outdoor confessions, live streaming masses, and the best of the homilists can be found on You tube. Jesus is always extending His hands, making Himself available to us during this pandemic. Do we see the presence of Jesus in all the events and circumstances of our lives? We are unable to elevate ourselves from the dangers we find ourselves in. But God will show us the way. Be patient -He is with us always. Do we recognize Him?
We find comfort in that Jesus does not change and any promises He made and any covenants made with Him never change. Yes, Jesus is alive !!
Ponder: How can you recognize Jesus in your every life? Do we ask God to” stay with us” because it is getting dark?
Alithos anesti
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