Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 3, 2024

Date:  Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

Scripture Text:  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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today brings us the familiar account of Jesus’ post resurrection appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as recounted in the Gospel of Luke. The two disciples, discouraged and distracted, did not recognize the Risen Jesus when He joined them (as Mary Magdalene did not recognize Him until He called her name (Jn 20:16). During their walk, the Risen Jesus breaks open the scriptures for the two disciples illuminating for them all the references to Jesus as Messiah who would suffer greatly for love of the Father and all humanity. Yet they still did not recognize Him; in fact, it wasn’t until the breaking of the bread when He blessed it, broke it and gave it to them that they recognized Him.

 Filled with enthusiasm and hope, they returned to Jerusalem to share the Good News with the other disciples. Once there, they were told that Jesus had also appeared to Simon. And the two shared how Jesus revealed Himself to them in the breaking of the bread.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I recognize Jesus as the Messiah, my Messiah? Do I allow the scriptures to illuminate my understanding and deepen my faith through the power of the Spirit? Do I recognize Jesus in the Eucharist and His gift to me?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we praise You for all You are and give You thanks for all You do and all You have given to us. Most especially, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for your love of us, even though we are sinners, and for our salvation from You, through your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in the Spirit. During this holy Easter Season, send your Spirit to kindle in us the fire of your love and to stir us to proclaim the Good News to all. Grant that we may daily recognize You in our presence, that we may see Christ in the Eucharist, that we may realize the power and presence of the Spirit at work in our world and in us. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.