The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 3:1-10
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Luke 24:13-35
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
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. (Luke 24:13-16)
What was it that made the disciples unable to recognize the Lord? Was it something supernatural that Jesus had done to prevent their seeing? Or, was it something much more simple and common, perhaps the disciples’ own blindness to what had actually transpired over their months with Him and during the Passover at Jerusalem?
How easy it is for us humans to forget what we have been taught, then become dismayed at the way things turn out. Jesus had told his disciples that He would die and that should have been no surprise to them. However, He also said He would rise again and that death would have no power over Him. This they seemed to have forgotten, even though they had received reports of this before leaving Jerusalem. For years Israel had expected a powerful, political messiah that would free them from occupation and bondage and, even though the Messiah came with a different message, His followers seemed to have still held out hope that Israel would be freed in some political sense.
Jesus’ greatest miracle remains with us in the Eucharist. It was no accident that these disciples could finally see Him after the breaking of the bread, or as the final words of today’s gospel so beautifully tell us, “He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Are there things in our lives that keep us from seeing the Lord? It is through the Eucharist that our eyes are once again opened to Him.
- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)
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