WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER APRIL 7, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Luke 24:13-25

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: Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

Today we are again reassured that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. The two disciples were sad and had left Jerusalem, disillusioned by all the events that happened .

A mother cries because her child is sick; an addict struggles with his habits and the call from his past that he can go back to his old life; a spouse is betrayed; loneliness; confusion about our future; sickness; afflictions; bitter disillusionments and death all happen to us. How do we respond to the present so that our future will not be lost?

Reading biographies of the saints and Scripture can help us contend with life and our quest for God's love: for His affections, His gifts, His peace. There are many bible studies formed as we hunger for more. When we share the same faith, read the Word of God, and share our fraternal needs and services, we encounter Jesus in our presence.

Like the apostles on the Road to Emmaus, we too feel "an ardent yearning" in our hearts. The Scriptures were explained and understood, and "their eyes were opened". The teacher was Jesus.

PAPA is blessed with our FACEZBS (face to face via zoom bible study) in that the leader of the bible study is a theologian. We meet once a week via zoom and Father Michael, our spiritual director, opens our eyes to the mysteries of God. We individually share our understanding of the homilies as they apply to our lives. Critical thinking helps in summarizing the importance of the shared homilies and then we are instructed by Father Michael in the context of the scripture reading. We interact with Father, we question and clarify.

Join us in our weekly bible study via zoom. The videos can be found at our website papamio.org under FACEZBS teachings. Best is to join us live. Contact us via our website for further information.

God Bless You