The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder those events on our journey when we have been aware of the intimate Presence revealing truth and goodness.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter heals a crippled beggar.
* [3:1] For the three o’clock hour of prayer: literally, “at the ninth hour of prayer.” With the day beginning at 6 A.M., the ninth hour would be 3 P.M.
* [3:6–10] The miracle has a dramatic cast; it symbolizes the saving power of Christ and leads the beggar to enter the temple, where he hears Peter’s proclamation of salvation through Jesus. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
Psalm 105 is praise for God’s Faithfulness to Israel
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares the scripture on the walk to Emmaus.
* [24:13–35] This episode focuses on the interpretation of scripture by the risen Jesus and the recognition of him in the breaking of the bread. The references to the quotations of scripture and explanation of it (Lk 24:25–27), the kerygmatic proclamation (Lk 24:34), and the liturgical gesture (Lk 24:30) suggest that the episode is primarily catechetical and liturgical rather than apologetic.
* [24:13] Seven miles: literally, “sixty stades.” A stade was 607 feet. Some manuscripts read “160 stades” or more than eighteen miles. The exact location of Emmaus is disputed.
* [24:16] A consistent feature of the resurrection stories is that the risen Jesus was different and initially unrecognizable (Lk 24:37; Mk 16:12; Jn 20:14; 21:4).
* [24:26] That the Messiah should suffer…: Luke is the only New Testament writer to speak explicitly of a suffering Messiah (Lk 24:26, 46; Acts 3:18; 17:3; 26:23). The idea of a suffering Messiah is not found in the Old Testament or in other Jewish literature prior to the New Testament period, although the idea is hinted at in Mk 8:31–33. See notes on Mt 26:63 and 26:67–68. (Luke, CHAPTER 24, n.d.)
Mary Lee Brock comments that Jesus entered their discussion and even his quoting scripture did not tip them off to his identity. Yet, once they gathered at table and Jesus broke bread and offered the blessing, they did recognize him.
As the season of Easter continues, I pray for the grace to trust in Jesus the way the man in the Temple did. I ask to hear the voice of God especially in times when I am consumed by troubling thoughts or busy celebrations. I pray to fully appreciate the gift of the Eucharist and remember Jesus breaking bread. I hope for traditions to continue to build community, and I ask to be able to see those who would love to be invited in.
Let us pray with the Psalm for today: 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.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the gifts of Easter! (Brock, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Now therefore, brethren, we urge you to praise God. That is what we are all telling each other when we say Alleluia. You say to your neighbor, "Praise the Lord!" and he says the same to you. We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each of us urges the other to do. But see that your praise comes from your whole being; in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions." (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 3:1-10 asks us to think back a bit. We can probably remember a time when we asked God for something small, and God surprised us with more than we had hoped for. Even when he seemed to say no, we can probably see how he still had something better in store for us.
Maybe God helped you find your lost keys—and drew your attention to a nearby book you’d been meaning to read, just when you needed to hear its message. Maybe you were looking for a few moments of silence when you wandered into Mass, and the good news touched your heart in a brand-new way. Maybe you asked God to protect you from bullying on your first day in a new school—and he brought a lifelong friend to stand alongside you.
Our God is so generous! Trust that even when it takes time, even if you recognize it only in hindsight, you will see the blessings he is pouring out on you.
“Father, thank you for all of your generous gifts to me.” (Meditation on Acts 3:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Peter moves from proclaiming the kerygma to healing the man at the Temple gate as they continue to practice their Judaism. Perhaps the disciple on the road with no name accompanying Cleopas represents us. Friar Jude reminds us of Luke’s connection to Stoicism and the importance of Word, Sacrament, and bilocation in our understanding of the Resurrected Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Judy Cannato who believes we experience Christ’s resurrection through ongoing growth and transformation.
Life and death are a single mystery. That is what the Paschal Mystery teaches us. Death is inevitable—but so is resurrection. We can be sure that dyings will intrude upon our lives, and we may have some choice about how we can respond to their coming. We can be awake and watchful for the resurrections as well, for the creative ways that new life streams into our lives even in the midst of death. Like supernova explosions that shatter every recognizable fragment of life [and scatter elements for new stars], we are capable of transcendence, capable of never allowing death to have the final say. [1] (Cannato, 2023)
We, ironically, may miss support of the Spirit in our difficulties when our troubles obscure the love in the “breaking of the bread” for our sustenance.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/3?1
Brock, M. L. (2023, April 12). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041223.html
Cannato, J. (2023, April 12). Watchful for Resurrections — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/watchful-for-resurrections-2023-04-12/
Luke, CHAPTER 24. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/24?13
Meditation on Acts 3:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/12/655312/
Psalms, PSALM 105. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture net. Did Not Our Hearts Burn While He Opened to Us the Scriptures. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr12
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