Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Reflection for April 30 Third Sunday of Easter; Luke 24:13-35

Gospel: 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.
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Reflection:
A husband was always being urged by his wife to join his family to attend Sunday Mass. The husband would always say, I don’t want to go because I don’t understand what’s going on at Mass and I am also busy with other things.

His wife told him, don’t you know that you always have a personal encounter with Jesus whenever you are at Holy Mass?  Don’t you know that the words of Jesus are always proclaimed to you at Holy Mass? And don’t you know that you always partake of Jesus Body and Blood during Holy Communion?

In our gospel, while Cleopas and the other disciple were going to Emmaus, the risen Jesus suddenly walked with them and conversed with them. They had no inkling that it was already the risen Christ who was with them. Why? This is for the reason that their focus was not on the risen Christ but on the Christ who died on the cross.

They walked-on until they reached Emmaus it was already night time so they invited Jesus to stay in their house. And while they were at a table Jesus took bread broke it said the blessings and shared it with the two of them. They immediately recognized that it was the risen Jesus Christ who was with them. For Jesus did the same sacred gesture before them and the apostles during the last supper in the upper room (Luke 22:19-20).

Cleopas and the other disciple are not alone in this predicament of not immediately recognizing the presence of Jesus in their midst. For we too are often guilty of not recognizing that Jesus is always present at Holy Mass.

And the reason behind not recognizing Jesus at Holy Mass is our lack of concentration and attention when we are at Mass. Our lack of interest with the Holy Mass readings and our failure to read Jesus life transforming words in the bible when we are in our homes.

If only we would prioritize our presence at Holy Mass, if only we would focus our attention to what the priest does at Holy Mass. And if only we would find time to open and read the life giving words of Jesus in the bible every day. We would know and feel that Jesus is also walking with us and He is ever ready to introduce Himself to us.  – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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