Readings for Wednesday in the Octave of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 3:1-10
Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o'clock hour of prayer.
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day
to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, "Look at us."
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk."
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one
who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 3:1-10
This dramatic cure of the lame beggar begins a group of events that place the disciples in the footsteps of Jesus. In this first action, the beggar is cured in the name of Jesus and immediately led into the temple area. The symbolism here is Jesus heals and leads us to faith.
This event also serves a secondary purpose. In addition to demonstrating the power of God’s intense love invoked through the name of Jesus, it also served to draw a large crowd to hear St. Peter’s kerygmatic discourse.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R. (3b) Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generationsB
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
This song of praise links us to the first reading from Acts by emphasizing the saving power of the name of the Lord. In using the name of God, the speaker implicitly gives glory to God for the blessings that follow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 24:13-35
This story of the disciples of the road to Emmaus is only found in Luke’s Gospel (and is used as an alternate for Mass on the evening of Easter Sunday). There is a mention in Mark 16;12 that is vague but probably refers to this event. The actual location of Emmaus is not known but it is estimated that it was between 7 and 18 miles from Jerusalem. The focus of the story is the unrecognized Jesus (remember yesterday in John 20:11-18, Mary Magdalene thought he was a gardener) interprets scripture and then his recognition in the breaking of the bread (the Eucharistic reference).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect today on why Jesus was not recognized as he walked among his disciples following his crucifixion and resurrection. This has happened a number of times. It happened when Mary Magdalene encountered him as she was weeping at the tomb in St. John’s account (John 20:11-18). It happened on the road to Emmaus to the two disciples. He was not known by Peter and the disciples when Peter and the disciples had gone fishing in John 21:1-14.
Why were those closest to Jesus unable to recognize him? Had he changed that much in appearance? He clearly interacted with them and the disciples that encountered him did recognize him eventually. In the case of the disciples on the road to Emmaus this happened when he broke the bread and blessed it (their Eucharist) and in the case of St. Peter it was also at the breaking of the bread. For Mary Magdalene, it was when he called her name. We ask one more question as we ponder this strange situation. Should the disciples have recognized him at once?
We know that the Gospel authors told their stories of Jesus life and ministry in such a way as to not only set out the facts of Jesus life but also to teach those to whom their accounts were passed. In the disciples inability to recognize Jesus we see our own failure to see Christ in those we meet. We even fail to see him in all the blessings he bestows on us each day. Is it so difficult for us to encounter Christ in our daily lives? Is his presence so hard to detect that we are oblivious to it until we have our attention transformed from the mundane to the spiritual by a blessing or by having our name called by God?
These friends of Christ, people who knew him intimately, who walked with him in the flesh, did not recognize him when he returned. They did not recognize him even as, we are told, their hearts burned within them as the Lord explained the scripture to them as they walked. They did not recognize him as he fed them – until he spoke the blessing and transformed their sight.
These events are not placed in the Gospel by accident; they are set as examples to us. Even while the light from the Easter Candle is still bright in our heats, we are reminded that Christ was raised from the dead and returned to us. He left us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the very person of himself and the Father, dwelling within those who accept it. We must be constantly aware of his presence in our brothers and sisters, looking deeply at the stranger with the eyes of Christ’s love to see there the Lord walking the dusty road to Emmaus or the gardener or the stranger on the shore.
He is risen!
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Supper at Emmaus” by Jacopo Pontormo, 1525
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 3:1-10
Peter and John were going up to the temple area
for the three o'clock hour of prayer.
And a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day
to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple,
he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John,
and said, "Look at us."
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk."
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
they recognized him as the one
who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple,
and they were filled with amazement and astonishment
at what had happened to him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 3:1-10
This dramatic cure of the lame beggar begins a group of events that place the disciples in the footsteps of Jesus. In this first action, the beggar is cured in the name of Jesus and immediately led into the temple area. The symbolism here is Jesus heals and leads us to faith.
This event also serves a secondary purpose. In addition to demonstrating the power of God’s intense love invoked through the name of Jesus, it also served to draw a large crowd to hear St. Peter’s kerygmatic discourse.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R. (3b) Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generationsB
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
This song of praise links us to the first reading from Acts by emphasizing the saving power of the name of the Lord. In using the name of God, the speaker implicitly gives glory to God for the blessings that follow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 24:13-35
This story of the disciples of the road to Emmaus is only found in Luke’s Gospel (and is used as an alternate for Mass on the evening of Easter Sunday). There is a mention in Mark 16;12 that is vague but probably refers to this event. The actual location of Emmaus is not known but it is estimated that it was between 7 and 18 miles from Jerusalem. The focus of the story is the unrecognized Jesus (remember yesterday in John 20:11-18, Mary Magdalene thought he was a gardener) interprets scripture and then his recognition in the breaking of the bread (the Eucharistic reference).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We reflect today on why Jesus was not recognized as he walked among his disciples following his crucifixion and resurrection. This has happened a number of times. It happened when Mary Magdalene encountered him as she was weeping at the tomb in St. John’s account (John 20:11-18). It happened on the road to Emmaus to the two disciples. He was not known by Peter and the disciples when Peter and the disciples had gone fishing in John 21:1-14.
Why were those closest to Jesus unable to recognize him? Had he changed that much in appearance? He clearly interacted with them and the disciples that encountered him did recognize him eventually. In the case of the disciples on the road to Emmaus this happened when he broke the bread and blessed it (their Eucharist) and in the case of St. Peter it was also at the breaking of the bread. For Mary Magdalene, it was when he called her name. We ask one more question as we ponder this strange situation. Should the disciples have recognized him at once?
We know that the Gospel authors told their stories of Jesus life and ministry in such a way as to not only set out the facts of Jesus life but also to teach those to whom their accounts were passed. In the disciples inability to recognize Jesus we see our own failure to see Christ in those we meet. We even fail to see him in all the blessings he bestows on us each day. Is it so difficult for us to encounter Christ in our daily lives? Is his presence so hard to detect that we are oblivious to it until we have our attention transformed from the mundane to the spiritual by a blessing or by having our name called by God?
These friends of Christ, people who knew him intimately, who walked with him in the flesh, did not recognize him when he returned. They did not recognize him even as, we are told, their hearts burned within them as the Lord explained the scripture to them as they walked. They did not recognize him as he fed them – until he spoke the blessing and transformed their sight.
These events are not placed in the Gospel by accident; they are set as examples to us. Even while the light from the Easter Candle is still bright in our heats, we are reminded that Christ was raised from the dead and returned to us. He left us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the very person of himself and the Father, dwelling within those who accept it. We must be constantly aware of his presence in our brothers and sisters, looking deeply at the stranger with the eyes of Christ’s love to see there the Lord walking the dusty road to Emmaus or the gardener or the stranger on the shore.
He is risen!
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Supper at Emmaus” by Jacopo Pontormo, 1525
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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