April 23, 2014

Easter Wed.

April 23, 2014:  Easter Wednesday (Wednesday in the Octave of Easter)

Readings
  • Acts 3:1-10  A man crippled from birth begged Peter and John for alms at the temple gate.  Peter:  “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you:  in the name of Jesus Christ, walk.”  Peter raised him up, and he stood, walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.  People recognized him as the one who used to beg at the gate and were amazed.
    Tagxedo word cloud 4-23-14
  • Ps 105:1-4, 6-9  "Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord."  Make known his deeds.  Sing praise.  Serve him constantly.  He is our God and remembers his covenant.
  • Lk 24:13-35  While two disciples were going to Emmaus, Jesus drew near and walked with them, but they didn't recognize him.  “What are you talking about?” / “Don't you know what happened to Jesus?...” / “How slow you are to believe!...”  He interpreted the Scriptures, they urged “Stay,” and he did.  At table he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them; their eyes were opened, they recognized him, and he vanished.  “Our hearts were burning as he opened the Scriptures to us!”  They returned to Jerusalem, found the Eleven and others saying, “The Lord has been raised!”  The two recounted what had taken place and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Pope Francis
  • Audience:   Easter joy is born of our faith in Christ’s resurrection and presence in the Church and world.  He made everything new and gave us new hope.  The question  the angel asked the women Easter morning  resurrection is for us too:  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”.  We look for life among things that can't give life!  We can close ourselves within selfishness or complacency, be seduced by things of this world, forget God and neighbor, or trust money or success.   We can close in on ourselves after a failure, feel alone or abandoned, feel imprisoned by sin, or lose strength to pray.
The Gospel shows us three life-changing encounters with the Risen Lord and invites us to a similar one:  Like Thomas, we need to grasp the reality of Christ’s rising to new life.  Like Mary Magdalene, we need to hear Jesus’ voice calling our name.  And like the travellers to Emmaus, we need to find new joy and hope by recognizing the Lord at our side.  They all sought the living among the dead, but Jesus led them to faith and the power of his resurrection.  Today he challenges us to seek him, the Living One, and leave behind what holds us back from encountering him and sharing in the rebirth, freedom, and hope only he can give.  He always renews his body and is close to correct our course, help us walk towards him, and encourage us to proclaim the Good News that can give new life to others.
Emmaus Road/ Gerloff
  • To Brazil's Bishops at end of World Youth Day 2013:  The Emmaus story is a key for interpreting the present and the future:  In it the disciples are scandalized by the failure of the Messiah in whom they’d hoped.  Those who think the Church can’t offer them anything and leave, setting off alone, aimless, disappointed, and disillusioned, are like them.  When nobody accompanies them or shows them the way, many seek shortcuts; because our standards seem too lofty, they stray further and their painful abandonment and solitude cry out.  We need to meet them on the way and enter into their conversation.  We need to accompany them, not just hear them, make sense of their “night,” and realize the reasons people leave contain reasons they can return.  Jesus warmed the Emmaus disciples’ hearts.  Can we warm hearts and lead people back?  Can we speak of our roots in a way that will inspire people?  Many leave because they’re promised something loftier, but what’s loftier than love and the Cross?  Can we demonstrate this to those who seek fulfillment elsewhere?  Nothing is more powerful than the weakness of love, goodness, truth, and beauty!  Listen, be patient, keep close alongside them, let them speak of their disappointments and let us address them.  When they thirst, accompany them back, and help them rediscover the glory and joy of Jerusalem, our Mother.  [Thanks, Fr. Chris, for the link, and for pointing out that "breaking of the bread" can refer to the Cross as well as the Eucharist.]
    Music
    Reflections
    • One Bread One Body:  Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we must return to the place Jesus was crucified.  We must go back to the Church, the Bible, and the Eucharist.
          Supper at Emmaus/ Ter Brugghen
        • Passionist:  We can encounter Jesus in the Scriptures. the sacraments, prayer, and discipleship/service.
        • DailyScripture.net:  Why they didn't recognize Jesus:  "They were so disturbed when they saw him on the cross, they forgot his teaching, didn't look for his resurrection, and didn't remember his promises" (St. Augustine, Sermon 235.1).  The Lord is ready to speak to us.  Do I listen and allow his word to change me?
        • Moved to greater love:  Ask for grace to recognize Jesus walking with me through each day.  I place myself in the Emmaus story:  a friend and I are walking, talking about our disappointments, things that rob us of hope.  I sense a presence approaching—Jesus—and invite him into our conversation.  What does Jesus have to say?  Can I entrust my difficulties to him?
        Apparel

        • "Eyeball" tie pin:  "Look at us" (1st reading); "their eyes were opened" (gospel)
        • "Coin" button:  beggar (1st reading)
        • Silver and gold-colored accessories:  "I have neither silver and gold" (1st reading)
        • "Walking person" tie pin:  he walked around (1st reading), disciples en route to Emmaus (gospel)
        • "Accordion" pin:  great instrument for El Peregrino de Emaús (gospel :-)
        • "Hearts" suspenders:  Rejoice, hearts that seek God (psalm), How slow of heart you are, weren't our hearts burning? (gospel)
        • "Burning sun" tie:  weren't our hearts burning? (gospel)
        • "Wheat" pin:  Jesus took bread...; their eyes were opened in its breaking (gospel)
        Dress your life!
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