Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
Lectionary: 263
Reading
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.
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 PS 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R. (3b) 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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generationsB
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generationsB
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel Lk 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles fromJerusalem
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 toJerusalem
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 redeemIsrael ;
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 toJerusalem
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.
two of Jesus’ disciples were going
to a village seven miles from
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
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
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
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.
Meditation: "Did not our
hearts burn while he opened to us the scriptures"
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
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) 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."
 Unexpected Company and Personal Reassessments |
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Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
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Father Robert Presutti, LC 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 Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are the source of all life because you are life itself. Your resurrection gives me the hope of being raised from the dead to rejoice with you forever in heaven. I need to dwell more often on the good you have done for us and on your promises to those who put their trust in you. Thank you, Jesus, for taking up your life again and leading the way home to heaven. I love you, and I want to follow after you with all my heart. I want to cooperate more fully with you in bringing many others there with me. Petition: Lord Jesus, walk by my side. Open up my person to the meaning of Scripture and the events of life. Make my heart burn within me with your words . 1. Two Downcast Faces: These two disciples had been badly shaken by the events of the last few days. They had courageously left home and family to follow the Lord. They had listened to his words, witnessed his miracles, and even generously gone out and preached in his name. They had expected Jesus to be the longed-for Messiah. And it was precisely at the moment Jesus referred to as “his hour”, when he was accomplishing his greatest work, that these disciples broke with Jesus. What when wrong? God worked in a way and with a power these disciples had not expected, and which they did not accept. The cross and suffering had not entered into their plans. A gloriously triumphant path, they could accept; but not a crucified Lord. As long as there were miracles, encouraging crowds and the high of emotion, following Christ was their thing. But when the Cross cast its shadow, they threw in the towel. And so, they are on their way back home, back to their old lifestyle, hopes shattered and faces downcast. Their conversation was a self-pitying reconstruction of events, without faith, without a sense of God, sunken in their own sorrow. 2. Unexpected Questions from an Unexpected Guest: The two disciples are so centered on their own woes and wounds that they do not recognize who walks alongside them. Feeling sorry for ourselves does not help us go to God, but only immerses us further in our own impotence. What breaks through this situation? An unexpected question that destroys the incorrect assumptions of these two malcontents and invites them to look more deeply at their own situation. Reflection on the obvious, on the real events of our life (and not our own broken, limited plans and hopes) is what begins to open the door to a reborn hope. What are you talking about? Why? Did you fail to grasp something? 3. The Breaking of the Bread: Christ is the shepherd that seeks out these two stray sheep. As always, he masterfully and gently enlightens their conscience and leads them to the truth. Listening to Christ prepares these two disciples to recognize him when he takes, breaks, blesses and gives them “bread” – the same actions of the Last Supper. After recognizing Our Lord in the “breaking of the bread”, their entire dispositions change. Even their way of assessing events and situations changes. They had stopped for the evening, but after experiencing the Lord, they race out in the middle of the night to share their experience with the others. Conversation with Christ: >Lord Jesus, teach me detachment from self, and acceptance of your glorious plan. Walk always by my side, and help me realize, that as long as I am in conversation with You, even without my realizing it, there is always hope and salvation. Resolution:I will let God break my own limited plans and expectations. I will talk to Christ about what goals he wants me to set for my life, impossible though they may seem. |
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 3
SOLEMNITY OF EASTER WEDNESDAY
LUKE 24:13-35
(Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" (v 32).
REFLECTING: Do I recognize the risen Lord's presence in the Word and Sacrament of the Mass?
PRAYING: Risen Lord, open my eyes so that I will know that you are beside me on my daily journey.
Let all
who seek the Lord rejoice
As the two disciples walked, Jesus approached and asked what they were discussing. His conversation led them to understand the sufferings that had led to his glory. He told them how foolish they were because they did not believe the message of the prophets foretelling that Christ would come to glory by suffering.
We need to talk with Jesus to understand the place of suffering in our lives. It is a hard mystery: Jesus’ example and his grace will help us take his view of our suffering.
April 3
St. Benedict the African
(1526-1589)
St. Benedict the African
(1526-1589)
Benedict held important posts in
the Franciscan Order and gracefully adjusted to other work when his terms of
office were up.
His parents were slaves brought from Africa to Benedict was eventually novice master and then guardian of the friars in
Benedict corrected the friars with humility and charity. Once he corrected a novice and assigned him a penance only to learn that the novice was not the guilty party. Benedict immediately knelt down before the novice and asked his pardon.
In later life Benedict was not possessive of the few things he used. He never referred to them as "mine" but always called them "ours." His gifts for prayer and the guidance of souls earned him throughout
After Benedict’s death, King Philip III of
Comment:
Among Franciscans a position of leadership is limited in time. When the time expires, former leaders sometimes have trouble adjusting to their new position. The Church needs men and women ready to put their best energies into leadership—but also men and women who are gracefully willing to go on to other work when their time of leadership is over.
Among Franciscans a position of leadership is limited in time. When the time expires, former leaders sometimes have trouble adjusting to their new position. The Church needs men and women ready to put their best energies into leadership—but also men and women who are gracefully willing to go on to other work when their time of leadership is over.
Quote:
"I did not come to be served but to serve (see Matthew 20:28), says the Lord. Those who are placed over others should glory in such an office only as much as they would were they assigned the task of washing the feet of the brothers. And the more they are upset about their office being taken from them than they would be over the loss of the office of [washing] feet, so much the more do they store up treasures to the peril of their souls (see John 12:6)" (Francis of Assisi, Admonition IV).
"I did not come to be served but to serve (see Matthew 20:28), says the Lord. Those who are placed over others should glory in such an office only as much as they would were they assigned the task of washing the feet of the brothers. And the more they are upset about their office being taken from them than they would be over the loss of the office of [washing] feet, so much the more do they store up treasures to the peril of their souls (see John 12:6)" (Francis of Assisi, Admonition IV).
Patron Saint of:
African-Americans
African-Americans
Lectio: Luke 24,13-35
Lectio:
Wednesday, April 3,
2013
Easter Time
1) Opening prayer
God
our Father,
you
are a God not of the dead
nor
of those paralyzed by their fears and limitations
but
the God of the living.Raise us up and make us walk forward
in
joy and hope
as
companions on the road
of
him whom you raised from the dead,
Jesus
Christ, our risen Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading
That
very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven
miles from Jerusalem
And
it happened that as they were talking together and discussing it, Jesus himself
came up and walked by their side; but their eyes were prevented from
recognising him. He said to them, 'What are all these things that you are
discussing as you walk along?' They stopped, their faces downcast. Then one of
them, called Cleopas, answered him, 'You must be the only person staying in
Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these
last few days.' He asked, 'What things?' They answered, 'All about Jesus of
Nazareth, who showed himself a prophet powerful in action and speech before God
and the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over
to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he
would be the one to set Israel
Then
he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe all that the prophets
have said! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering
into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets,
he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about
himself.
When
they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on;
but they pressed him to stay with them saying, 'It is nearly evening, and the
day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with
them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and
handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he
had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Did not our
hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the
scriptures to us?'
They
set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem
3) Reflection
•
Today’s Gospel speaks to us of a very well know episode, that of the apparition
of Jesus to the Disciples of Emmaus. Luke writes in the year 80 for the
communities of Greece Jerusalem desert of Judah
•
Luke 24, 13-24: 1st Step: to get away from reality. Jesus meets the two friends
in a situation of fear and of lack of faith. The force of death, the cross, had
killed in them their hope. This was the situation of many people at the time of
Luke, and is also the situation of many persons today. Jesus gets close to them
and walks by their side; he listens to their conversation and asks: “What are
all these things that you are discussing as you walk along?” The dominating
ideology, that is, the propaganda of the government and of the official
religion of the time, prevent them from seeing. “Our hope had been that he
would be the one to set Israel
•
Luke 24, 25-27: 2nd step: use the Bible to enlighten life. Jesus uses the Bible
and the history of people to enlighten the problem which made the two friends
suffer, and to clarify the situation which they are living. He also uses it to
place them in the whole project of God which came from Moses and the prophets.
Thus, he indicates that history had not escaped from God’s hand. Jesus uses the
Bible not as a doctor who knows everything, but rather like a companion who
comes to help the friends and to remind them what they had forgotten. Jesus
does not set off to the disciples the complex of ignorance, but tries to awaken
their memory: “Foolish and slow to believe all that the prophets have said! Was
it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering into his glory?”
This
is the second step: With the Bible help persons to discover the wisdom which
already exists in them, and transform the cross, a sign of death, into a sign
of life and of hope. What prevented them from walking, now becomes for them
force and light on the journey. How can we do this today?
Luke
24, 28-32: 3rd step: to share in community. The Bible, in itself, does not open
the eyes. It only makes their heart burn, what opens the eyes and makes them
see, is the breaking of the bread, the community gesture of sharing, and the
celebration of the Supper. In the moment in which both recognize Jesus, they
are born anew and Jesus disappears. Jesus does not take possession of the road
of his friends. He is not paternalistic. Risen, the disciples are capable to
walk alone.
The
third step is the following: to know how to create a fraternal environment of
faith, of celebration and of sharing, where the Holy Spirit can act. It is he
who makes us discover and experience the Word of God in life and which leads us
to understand the sense of the words of Jesus (Jn 14, 26; 16, 13).
•
Luke 24, 33-35: 4th step: The result: To resurrect means to go back to Jerusalem Jerusalem Liberty
4) Personal questions
•
Both of them say: “We were hoping, but…!” Have you ever seen a situation of
discouragement which has led you to say: “I was hoping, but…!”?
•
How do you read, use and interpret the Bible? Have you ever felt your heart
burning when reading and meditating on the Word of Gold? Do you read the Bible
alone or are you part of a Bible group?
5) Concluding Prayer
Give
thanks to Yahweh, call on his name,
proclaim
his deeds to the peoples!
Sing
to him, make music for him,
recount
all his wonders! (Ps 105,1-2)
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