Today’s Gospel
story happens just after the famous journey of the two disciples on the road to
Emmaus, when the Disciples failed to recognize Jesus as He walked along with
them. In today’s story, they have returned to Jerusalem to tell the others what
happened on the road and their recognition of Jesus at the breaking of the
bread. St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) reflects on the dimness of their
perception: "They were so disturbed when they saw him hanging on the cross
that they forgot his teaching, and He said it more than once, that he would
suffer and die but He would rise again on the third day. They did not look for
his resurrection, and failed to keep his promises in mind" (Sermon 235.1).
"Their
eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking of
the bread. And thus, in accordance with the state of their minds, which was
still ignorant of the truth (that the Christ would die and rise again), their
eyes were similarly hindered. It was not that the truth himself was misleading
them, but rather that they were themselves unable to perceive the truth."
(From The Harmony of the Gospels, 3.25.72).
How often do
we fail to recognize the Lord when he speaks to our hearts and opens his mind
to us? The Risen Lord is ever ready to speak his word to us and to give us
understanding of his ways. One important question that we can all ask ourselves
is: Do we listen attentively to the Word of God and allow his word to change
and transform us?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus
Christ, open the eyes of our hearts to recognize your presence with us and to
understand the truth of your saving word. Nourish us with your life-giving word
and with the bread of life.
Let us
continue to pray for all our candidates for First Holy Communion and
Confirmation. Their special days are quickly approaching!
Celebration
of First Holy Communion
Saturday,
May 2 at the 5:00 pm Mass
Sunday, May
3 at the 9:30 and 11:30 Masses
Celebration
of Confirmation – Pentecost
weekend
Saturday,
May 23 at the 5:00 pm Mass
Sunday, May
24 at the 9:30 am and 11:30 am Masses
I wish you
all a good week
Fr. Phil
