Octave of Easter
12th April 2023 (Wednesday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 3:1-10
In those days: Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9 (R. 3b)
R/. Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Or: Alleluia.
Gospel : Luke 24:13-35
That very day [the first day of the week,] two of the disciples of Jesus were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Hearts burn!
Indicative: When the Lord is with us, when he walks with us, and when he speaks to us, surely our hearts shall be set ablaze and we shall recognise him {alertSuccess}
1. We all are crippled. Today’s word of God gives us instances of being crippled. They are two kinds. One is physical as in the case of the crippled beggar in the first reading. The power of the risen Lord through Peter heals him.
2. Three concrete effects of healing are seen. They are namely, gratitude to God, as he starts praising God. He gets closer to God, as he went into the temple. And he was full of enthusiasm as he jumps and walks around.
3. The crippled beggar receives far more than what he expected. He wanted just some material help. But he was granted healing itself. It is not just a temporary help. But it was a life-long change and life-changing change. His whole life changes. He gains not only health but much more, his lost dignity itself. Therefore it was not just a physical healing but holistic.
4. The gospel presents us with another kind of crippling. It is spiritual crippling. It is the “crippled faith”. This is seen in the case of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Their faith was truly crippled. The Lord himself indicates this spiritual crippling as he rebukes them, saying, “How foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe what was already foretold!”
5. The effects of this spiritual crippling are clear: They were prevented from recognising the Lord. They were overpowered by the human ream and human factors like sorrow and disappointment. They too needed healing to cure this spiritual crippling. This consists of listening to the Lord, staying with him, and sharing the (Eucharistic) table with him.
Imperative: Constantly we are called to be healed and heal others from various forms of crippling. This is possible only with the power of the Lord {alertSuccess}