"The Lord is risen indeed"

During the breaking of bread, The disciples' eyes were opened.

Where two disciples realize the stranger walking with them is the risen Jesus,

They immediately return to Jerusalem to share the news with the apostles.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 3:1-10

Once when Peter and John 

Were going up to the temple, at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, 

a man, crippled from birth, was being carried in. Every day,

they would bring him and put him at the temple gate called “Beautiful;”

there, he begged from those who entered the temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the temple, he asked for alms. 

 

Then Peter, with John at his side, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 

So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. 

But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you:

In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”  Then, he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up.

 

At once, his feet and ankles became firm,  and, jumping up, he stood on his feet and began to walk.

And he went with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.

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 all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊       

Luke 24:13-35

That same day, two followers of Jesus were going to Emmaus,

a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking to each other

about all the things that had happened. While they were talking and debating these things,

Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them, but their eyes were not able to recognize him.

He asked, "What is it you are talking about?" The two stood still, looking sad.

Then the one named Cleophas answered, "Why, it seems you are the only traveler to Jerusalem

who doesn't know what has happened there these past few days." And he asked, "What is it?"

 

They replied, "It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know,

mighty in word and deed before God and the people.

But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death.

They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.

It is now the third day since all this took place.

It is also true that some women of our group have disturbed us.

 

When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body;

and they came and told us that they had had a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.

Some of our people went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said,

but they did not find a body in the tomb."

He said to them, "How dull you are, how slow of understanding!

Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand?

Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this, and then enter his glory?"

 

Then starting with Moses, and going through the prophets,

he explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther.

But they prevailed upon him, "Stay with us, for night comes quickly.

The day is now almost over. So he went in to stay with them.

When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave each a piece.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight.

 

And they said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us

when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?"

They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem.

There, they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together.

They were greeted by these words: "Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen!

He has appeared to Simon!" Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus,

and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Their hearts burned with renewed hope.

The Emmaus story captures the beauty of encountering the risen Christ in unexpected ways.

Two disciples, overwhelmed by grief and confusion, journey away from Jerusalem.

As they walk, a stranger joins them, unfolding the Scriptures

and revealing how the Messiah's suffering leads to glory.

Though they did not recognize Him, their hearts burned with renewed hope.

At the breaking of the bread, their eyes are opened – they realize the stranger is Jesus.

In that moment, joy replaces despair, and they rush back to share the Good News.

 

This story reminds us that Christ walks with us, even when we don't recognize His presence.

Even when we feel overwhelmed by doubt or grief, Jesus is there.

He speaks to our hearts through Scripture and

reveals Himself in the Eucharist and the simple moments of life.

Our Emmaus journeys remind us to seek Christ in ordinary moments and stay open to His presence.

By doing so, we can experience the joy and hope of resurrection,

just as the disciples did when they recognized Jesus and returned to Jerusalem to share the good news.