April 8, 2015

Easter Wed.

April 8, 2015:  Easter Wednesday = Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

Found 17 connections between the picture
and today's readings and celebration?
(OK; some are stretches.  Legend below)

Listen

Pope Francis
Audience:  Children are God's greatest blessing on us, but many are suffering, rejected, abandoned, robbed of their future.  Some say it's a mistake to bring them into the world, but children are never a mistake, and their sufferings are only reasons for us to love them even more.  Every child who begs, who is denied education or health care, is a cry to God.  Too often they become prey to criminals who exploit them.  They can suffer because of family crises or inhumane living conditions.  Their childhood is violated in body and soul.  Jesus said, “Let the children come to me… for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  Many extraordinary parents make daily sacrifices for their children.
The Church offers her maternal care to all children and their families, bringing them Jesus' blessing.  May we always care for them, not counting the cost, so that they may never believe themselves to be mistakes, but always know their worth.  May the Risen Lord confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of his love and mercy to all.
To Brazil's Bishops at end of WYD 2013:  Meet people on their journey, listen, be patient, accompany them, warm their hearts, and inspire them, as Jesus did.  Summary
Read
  • 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.
  • 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.
    Emmaus Road/ Gerloff
  • 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.
Reflect
    • Creighton:  Imagine being one of the disciples en route to Emmaus, dejected about the loss of Jesus and hope, embarrassed I believed, unsure of the future.  This stranger joins us, listens to our story, then tells us how the Bible shows the promised savior had to suffer.  We arrive confused, tired, and hungry.  When we sit to eat, he blesses and breaks the bread and gives it to us; only then do I recognize the stranger as Jesus.   May I open my eyes and heart to recognize Jesus' presence.
      Supper at Emmaus/ Ter Brugghen
    • One Bread One Body:  "Heart-burn":  If we let Jesus purify our hearts, our words become powerful, healing, and life-changing.  When we speak out of a pure heart, we speak out of God's heart with the power of God's Word....
    • Passionist:  We can also not see Jesus till we recognize him in the breaking of the bread.  The Eucharist has many dimensions:   meal, celebration, unity, daily bread, God’s embrace....  We find Jesus in the Eucharist, his dying, and our being reconciled with God.  We may find new recognition of Jesus when we become the broken bread, e.g. when we suffer loss, sorrow, or affliction.  When we bring our burdens to Jesus, we enter into his love story and experience his paschal mystery.
    • DailyScripture.net:  St. Augustine re disciples' dim perception:  "They were so disturbed when they saw him on the cross that they forgot his teaching, didn't look for his resurrection, and didn't keep his promises in mind....  Their eyes were obstructed and minds ignorant, not that the truth himself was misleading them, but that they couldn't perceive the truth."  We too fail to recognize the Lord when he speaks to us....
    Dress legend
    • '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)
    • '?' tie pin:  Emmaus disciples' and Jesus' questions to one another
    • 'Accordion' pin:  great instrument for El Peregrino de Emaús (gospel :-)
    • 'Angel' pin:  "The women reported they saw angels..." (gospel)
    • 'Hearts' suspenders:  Rejoice, hearts that seek God (psalm); How slow of heart you are; weren't our hearts burning? (gospel)
    • 'Silverware' tie bar:  While at table, Jesus took bread... (gospel)
    • 'Clown' tie:  Jesus to disciples:  "Oh, how foolish you are!" (gospel)
    • 'Wheat' pin:  Jesus took bread...; their eyes were opened in its breaking (gospel)
    • White in shirt:  Easter day and season.  (BTW I've been wearing white socks since Sunday.)
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