EASTER WEDNESDAY READINGS AND REFLECTION ON THE DISCIPLES OF EMMAUS (Lk 24:13–35): “STAY WITH US.”

EASTER WEDNESDAY READINGS AND REFLECTION
ON THE DISCIPLES OF EMMAUS (Lk 24:13–35):
“STAY WITH US.”

READING I 
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. 
 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord. 
Or: 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: 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: 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: Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant 
which he made binding for a thousand generations. 
Which he entered into with Abraham 
and by his oath to Isaac. 
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord. 
Or: Alleluia.

 
Optional: Sequence

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems: Christ,
who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in
that combat stupendous: 
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen,
our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! 
Amen. Alleluia. 
 
ALLELUIA
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

GOSPEL
Lk 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.

GOSPEL COMMENTARY

Today’s Gospel narrates to us the disciples of Emmaus’ encounter with the Risen Lord. St. John describes how they were disillusioned, downcast and discouraged after Our Lord’s death and how Our Lord drew near and walked with them, patiently explained them Scriptures about Him, was invited by the disciples to stay with them, who later recognized Him in the “breaking of the Bread”.

1. Jesus is with us in the Holy Eucharist to accompany us in our daily life.

2. Welcome Jesus in your life and He will fill you with joy and leave your “heart burning from within”.

But then, all the above would only be possible if we are willing to welcome Him and allow Him to accompany us in our earthly journey. If we want to know Jesus more, we must frequent and love Him in the Holy Eucharist, for “he was made known to them through the breaking of the Bread (Lk 24:35)”

Dear brethren in Christ, are we willing to welcome Jesus in our life? Do we realize that Christ fulfills His promise to be with us till the end of time in the Holy Mass where He accompanies us, guides us with His Word, and gives His Flesh and Blood anew to us as our strength, consolation, spiritual food…

May our disposition be like that of the disciples of Emmaus: “Stay with us, Lord” for without you, our life is empty and meaningless. Without you, we walk in darkness and despair. But with you, who are our Light and Joy; with your Word and Real Presence with us and within us, our life is filled with joy and our heart “burning from within”.

Stay safe always and God bless!
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo

VIDEO REFLECTION
TOPIC: WHAT PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING JESUS PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE?

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus showed himself to two of His disciples, distraught and discouraged, while on their way to Emmaus. His death dashed all their hopes. They did not recognize Him. Jesus asks them what they were so upset about. Of course, as God, He already knew. But He played along. Why? Because He wanted them to discover for themselves that Jesus had risen and was with them.

SSE AS WELL: POPE FRANCIS ON THE DISCIPLES OF EMMAUS HERE.

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