First Reading (Acts 3:1-10)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, Peter and John went up to the Temple for the three o’clock prayer in the afternoon. Then they brought a man, lame from birth, whom they used to place every day at the door of the Temple, called Beautiful, so that he could ask alms from those who entered.
When he saw Peter and John entering the Temple, the man asked for alms. They both looked at him and Pedro said: “Look at us!” The man looked at them, hoping to receive something. Peter then said to him, “I have neither gold nor silver, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
And taking his right hand, Peter lifted him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became firm. Then he jumped up, stood up and started walking. And he entered the Temple together with Peter and John, walking, jumping and praising God.
The whole people saw the man walking and praising God. And they recognized that he was the same one who asked for alms, sitting at the beautiful door of the Temple. And they were amazed and amazed at what had happened to him.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Lc 24,13-35)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.
— Glory to you, Lord.
That same day, the first of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, eleven kilometers from Jerusalem. They talked about all the things that had happened.
While they were talking and arguing, Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them. The disciples, however, were as if blind, and did not recognize him. Then Jesus asked: “What are you talking about along the way?” They stopped, with sad faces, and one of them, called Cleophas, said to him: “Are you the only pilgrim in Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there in these last days?
He asked, “What happened?” The disciples replied: “What happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word, before God and before all the people. Our high priests and our chiefs handed him over to be sentenced to death and crucified him. We hoped that he would free Israel, but despite all this, it has been three days since all these things happened! It’s true that some women in our group gave us a scare. They went to the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body. Then they returned, saying that they had seen angels and that they said that Jesus is alive. Some of our people went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said. But no one saw him.”
Then Jesus said to them: “How unintelligent you are and how slow to believe everything the prophets have spoken! Shouldn’t Christ have suffered all this to enter his glory?” And, starting with Moses and going through the Prophets, he explained to his disciples all the passages of Scripture that spoke about him.
When they arrived near the village where they were going, Jesus pretended to go further. But they insisted on Jesus, saying: “Stay with us, for it is already late and the night is coming!” Jesus came in to be with them. When he sat down at the table with them, he took bread, blessed it, broke it and distributed it to them.
At this the disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. Jesus, however, disappeared from their sight. Then one said to the other, “Didn’t our hearts burn when he spoke to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?” At that same time, they got up and returned to Jerusalem where they found the Eleven gathered with the others. And they confirmed: “Truly, the Lord has risen and appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I want to take you on a journey. A journey of transformative encounters, of inflamed hearts and open eyes. A journey that begins on the dusty roads of everyday life and culminates in a moment of profound recognition of the living presence of Jesus. On this journey, we will follow two powerful biblical accounts: the First Reading of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 3,1-10) and the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 24,13-35). These passages show us that even when we are lost and discouraged, Jesus walks beside us, ready to open our eyes and light the fire of faith in our hearts.
Imagine the scene described in the Gospel of Luke: two disciples walking sadly on the road to Emmaus, plunged into disappointment and despair after the death of Jesus. They could not understand how the promised Messiah could have been crucified. The future seemed bleak and hopeless. But then, Jesus approaches them and begins to walk beside them, asking about their problems and listening attentively.
How many times have we felt like these discouraged disciples? We walk the road of life, burdened with our worries, pains and disappointments. Our burden seems too heavy to bear, and hope seems to be gone. But just as Jesus approached the disciples in their moment of despair, He also approaches us. He walks beside us, even when we don’t recognize Him.
In the Gospel, the disciples do not recognize Jesus. His eyes were veiled with sadness and lack of understanding. But Jesus does not give up on them. He begins to explain the Scriptures, revealing to the disciples the prophecies that pointed to His own death and resurrection. They listen attentively, but still do not fully recognize Him.
It is only when Jesus breaks the bread during the meal that the disciples’ eyes are opened. They see the marks on Jesus’ hands and finally recognize Him. At that moment, their hearts are filled with joy and their eyes light up with the living presence of the Resurrected One.
Dear friends, this story teaches us that Jesus is always present in our lives, even when we don’t recognize Him. He speaks to us through Scripture, prayer, sacraments, and encounters with our brothers and sisters. He walks beside us, even when we don’t see Him. But it is through moments of encounter and intimacy that our eyes are opened and we recognize his living presence.
Just like the disciples on Emmaus, we are also invited to listen carefully to the Word of God, to delve into the Scriptures and to open our hearts to the action of the Holy Spirit. When we do this, we discover that Jesus is present on every page, in every verse, waiting to reveal His truth and His transforming grace to us.
But the story doesn’t end there. The disciples’ encounter with Jesus is not just for their own benefit. They immediately return to Jerusalem to share the good news with the other disciples. They cannot contain the joy of having met the Resurrected One. They need to share this experience with others.
Dear brothers and sisters, like the disciples, we are also called to share our experiences with Jesus. We must be living witnesses of His love, His mercy, and His grace. We must bring the good news of the Gospel to everyone we meet on our journey through life.
But how can we do this? How can we share the presence of Jesus with others?
First, we must be authentic in our own faith and in our relationship with Christ. The people around us need to see the difference Jesus makes in our lives. We need to live according to the teachings we find in the Scriptures, seeking holiness and love in all our actions.
Second, we must be willing to listen to the stories of others and share our own stories of faith. Just as Jesus walked alongside the disciples on their journey to Emmaus, so too should we walk alongside others in their struggles and joys. We must be sensitive to the needs of those around us and be willing to offer a word of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, or an outstretched hand of help.
Third, we must be courageous in sharing the Gospel. We are often afraid to talk about our faith with others, worried about what they might think or how they might react. But Jesus calls us to be courageous and to trust His promise that He will be with us always. We must be willing to talk about Jesus, share the good news of salvation, and invite others to know God’s love.
Dear brothers and sisters, the story of the disciples at Emmaus is a story of hope and transformative encounter. It’s a story that reminds us that Jesus is always walking alongside us, even when we don’t recognize Him. It is a story that challenges us to open our eyes and our hearts to the living presence of Christ in our lives. And it’s a story that inspires us to share that presence with others, so that they too can experience the joy and hope that only Jesus can bring.
May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us as we continue on our journey of faith. May He open our eyes to see the presence of Jesus in every area of our lives. And may He give us the courage and wisdom to share that presence with others, so that all can know and experience God’s inexhaustible love.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May God bless you and give you peace.
