From The American Bible Society:
May 8, 2011
Third Sunday of Easter
THEIR EYES WERE OPENED…
Luke 24:13-35 (Good News Translation)
13 On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them; 16 they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. 17 Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?” They stood still, with sad faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did. 20 Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified. 21 And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened. 22 Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb, 23 but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him. ” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory? ” 27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther; 29 but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others 34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!” 35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.
Other Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Peter 1:17-21;
Lectio
The opening situation depicted in the passage from Luke’s gospel that we read today is gloomy, sad. It reflects the disenchantment of two disciples who had perhaps ‘left everything and followed’ Jesus (Mark 10:28) and suddenly found all their expectations had vanished. They ‘had hoped that Jesus would be the one who was going to set Israel free’, but after three days, there was not the slightest sign of his resurrection. That was, perhaps, the reason why they were leaving Jerusalem, their projects, plans, hope itself… everything was over. There was nothing left. Jesus joins them on their way and tries to explain the deep meaning of all that had happened. He knows quite well what he is talking about, and his reasoning follows the whole Scripture, from Moses through the Prophets, to show them how wrong they were in their interpretation of the events that had happened that Easter. All of this is to no avail, as they are slow to believe. Luke uses here all his literary ‘weapons’ to underline the importance of the setting of that encounter. Jesus seems to be leaving them. It is getting dark. Yet these disciples feel there must be something special about their travelling companion, so they invite him to stay with them and share in their meal. In an unexpected, marvellous way, those who had fostered doubts and despair in their hearts, those who could not find comfort in the words from the Scripture, suddenly feel their eyes wide open to grasp the meaning of a simple gesture. They can see Jesus risen from the dead when he sits at table, breaks the bread and gives it to them. Obviously, the Eucharistic mystery is shown here in the most ‘secular’ disguise. Except for the blessing, there is no other religious detail we can find in the story. Even so, what seemed a common dinner becomes a sign which goes beyond the limits of ordinary, human hospitality and reaches the dimensions of an epiphany. Their eyes were opened. There is something else. Jesus has not identified himself, has not uttered a single word to imply who ‘He is’. Nevertheless, they recognise him. In a similar way, John will describe another of the apparitions, the one at the shore of Lake Tiberias: “None of the disciples dared ask him ’Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12). From the perspective of Christian faith, any circumstance becomes a saving moment, any event becomes a point of encounter with God, any stranger becomes the Lord himself.
Meditatio
In the midst of our daily activity, we come in touch with other people: in our workplace, in our neighborhood, people with whom we exchange some words, share the seat at the bus. Are our eyes open so as to recognise in them the presence of the Lord? The first step Jesus takes to make the disciples understand the meaning of his death and resurrection is to explain the Scripture to them. But even so, the disciples do not believe. Only in sharing bread does he get them to ‘see’ him. Is our ‘verbal’ witness accompanied by a personal commitment to others? Think of the moments in which our attitudes and our actions contradict our words.
Oratio
Pray for those who have lost hope, who are leaving or are about to leave ‘Jerusalem’, their own churches or communities, that they may find the Lord and recover hope and new strength to believe. Pray for yourself, that you may communicate to others and share with them the faith you have received as a gift.
Contemplatio
In a mysterious way, the two disciples have discovered the risen Lord in something as simple as sharing a meal. In a mysterious way, too, Simeon discovered salvation in someone as feeble and humble as a baby. Repeat his words as a sign of gratitude for your own encounter with Christ: ‘With my own eyes I have seen your salvation’ (Luke 2:28-32).
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón
© 2010 American Bible Society
May 8, 2011
Third Sunday of Easter
THEIR EYES WERE OPENED…
Luke 24:13-35 (Good News Translation)
13 On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them; 16 they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. 17 Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?” They stood still, with sad faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did. 20 Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified. 21 And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened. 22 Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb, 23 but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him. ” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory? ” 27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther; 29 but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others 34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!” 35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.
Other Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Peter 1:17-21;
Lectio
The opening situation depicted in the passage from Luke’s gospel that we read today is gloomy, sad. It reflects the disenchantment of two disciples who had perhaps ‘left everything and followed’ Jesus (Mark 10:28) and suddenly found all their expectations had vanished. They ‘had hoped that Jesus would be the one who was going to set Israel free’, but after three days, there was not the slightest sign of his resurrection. That was, perhaps, the reason why they were leaving Jerusalem, their projects, plans, hope itself… everything was over. There was nothing left. Jesus joins them on their way and tries to explain the deep meaning of all that had happened. He knows quite well what he is talking about, and his reasoning follows the whole Scripture, from Moses through the Prophets, to show them how wrong they were in their interpretation of the events that had happened that Easter. All of this is to no avail, as they are slow to believe. Luke uses here all his literary ‘weapons’ to underline the importance of the setting of that encounter. Jesus seems to be leaving them. It is getting dark. Yet these disciples feel there must be something special about their travelling companion, so they invite him to stay with them and share in their meal. In an unexpected, marvellous way, those who had fostered doubts and despair in their hearts, those who could not find comfort in the words from the Scripture, suddenly feel their eyes wide open to grasp the meaning of a simple gesture. They can see Jesus risen from the dead when he sits at table, breaks the bread and gives it to them. Obviously, the Eucharistic mystery is shown here in the most ‘secular’ disguise. Except for the blessing, there is no other religious detail we can find in the story. Even so, what seemed a common dinner becomes a sign which goes beyond the limits of ordinary, human hospitality and reaches the dimensions of an epiphany. Their eyes were opened. There is something else. Jesus has not identified himself, has not uttered a single word to imply who ‘He is’. Nevertheless, they recognise him. In a similar way, John will describe another of the apparitions, the one at the shore of Lake Tiberias: “None of the disciples dared ask him ’Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12). From the perspective of Christian faith, any circumstance becomes a saving moment, any event becomes a point of encounter with God, any stranger becomes the Lord himself.
Meditatio
In the midst of our daily activity, we come in touch with other people: in our workplace, in our neighborhood, people with whom we exchange some words, share the seat at the bus. Are our eyes open so as to recognise in them the presence of the Lord? The first step Jesus takes to make the disciples understand the meaning of his death and resurrection is to explain the Scripture to them. But even so, the disciples do not believe. Only in sharing bread does he get them to ‘see’ him. Is our ‘verbal’ witness accompanied by a personal commitment to others? Think of the moments in which our attitudes and our actions contradict our words.
Oratio
Pray for those who have lost hope, who are leaving or are about to leave ‘Jerusalem’, their own churches or communities, that they may find the Lord and recover hope and new strength to believe. Pray for yourself, that you may communicate to others and share with them the faith you have received as a gift.
Contemplatio
In a mysterious way, the two disciples have discovered the risen Lord in something as simple as sharing a meal. In a mysterious way, too, Simeon discovered salvation in someone as feeble and humble as a baby. Repeat his words as a sign of gratitude for your own encounter with Christ: ‘With my own eyes I have seen your salvation’ (Luke 2:28-32).
Reflections written by Rev. Fr. Mariano Perrón
© 2010 American Bible Society
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