Acts 3:1-10
Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Lk 24:13-35 Full Readings
Recognising Jesus in the Eucharist
Brethren, we continue to celebrate Easter and Jesus continues to appear to different groups of people while on the other hand, the Apostles are using the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the light of the Risen Lord to perform miracles and show that really the Lord who was crucified died, was buried and now is indeed alive; he has risen. Do we ourselves believe in this Resurrection, if Yes, let us take that light of resurrection to others.
Today in the Gospel, Jesus’s appearance to the disciples on the way to Emmaus responds to the anguishing desire of our hearts to make sense of suffering. Jesus encounters his two friends in a shared experience of fear and lack of faith, discussing how the death of Jesus and the scandal of the cross have killed hope within them—an all too familiar situation for the early persecuted Christian community and also the predicament of many people today. Jesus gets close to them and walks by their side. He listens to their conversation and asks, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” “We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.” Following the example of Jesus, we need to get close to suffering souls in our path and learn to listen to their reality, feel their problems—to be capable of asking questions that will help those around us to look at their reality from the perspective of faith.
Jesus first explaining the scripture and then breaking the bread for them gives us the shape of the Christian the Christian liturgy indeed. When we go for mass, we must pay attention to the two parts of liturgy. The liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. When we listen attentively and assimilate the Word of God, our hearts burn with us and in this way, we prepare ourselves for the Liturgy of the Eucharist and to welcome and receive him in the Eucharist. In both of the parts, we should be ready to recognise Jesus speaking and coming to us.
Why couldn't the disciples recognise Jesus as he was explaining them the scripture or even as he walked with them? St Augustine has this to say "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). When we fill our hearts and minds with only focusing on our problems and sufferings of this world, worrying about our lives forgetting that Jesus is there to take care of us, we fail to trust in in his Word, we miss listening to Jesus and recognising him as he speaks to us. Do you sometimes fill your minds with worldly worries and end up missing Jesus especially when you go for mass?
We must also be able to recognise Jesus in the Eucharist and breaking to the bread as the two disciples did. Christ indeed is fully present in the species of bread and wine. It is only with the eyes of faith that we see and enter this mystery. Truly, as Jesus has shown in the Gospel, He is present daily in the Eucharist, and invites us to always meet him there, "Come and Visit me, Come and talk to me, as your brother, See I am here, in the Eucharist." How deep is your, my or our love for the Eucharist, do we believe that he is really present there, do we recognize him at the breaking of the Bread as Acts 2: 26 says, when we gather together with one heart and break the bread in his name, he is really among and we receive him sacramentally? Reflect on what stops you to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and pray to God to clear such barriers on your way to receive him in the Eucharist.
Let us Pray.
That our love for the Eucharist may increase and that we should endeavor to understand and believe in the scripture for as St Jerome says, “Ignorance of the scripture is ignorance of Christ.” It is when we have faith in the Eucharist and understand the scripture that we can go out to proclaim with even the powers to heal as Peter and John did in the first Reading. Lord Jesus, increase our faith. Amen
Be blessed.
Today: Day Six of Divine Mercy Novena
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