The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to walk with Jesus on our journey with our sorrows and joys as we hear testimony, experience Presence, and abide in His Love.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the Appearance of Jesus on the Road 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. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 is a Hymn to God .
* [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 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Appearance of Jesus on the Road 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Susan Naatz shares about someone who shared her pain. As we listened to the story of how our mother helped pave the way for Peg to flourish and be successful, we realized that we were not alone in our grief. Her solidarity comforted us.
Jesus walked into the lives of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He listened, blessed and broke bread with them and as they recognized him, their shattered hearts became hearts of love which were burning within. They were not alone.
The compassionate person walks across the bridge into the life of another saying along the way, ‘you are not alone, I am with you.’ (Naatz, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes 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 Luke 24:13-35 exhorts us to fix our mind and heart on the risen Christ. God was able to transform the terrible events of his passion into the glory of the resurrection. But because he knew that we are often “slow to believe,” he gave us a lasting reminder of all that he has done for us: Jesus himself, present in the Eucharist. Just as the Emmaus disciples recognized him in the breaking of the bread, we can recognize his presence with us every time we “break bread” at the table of the Lord.
This Easter season, Jesus wants us to remember that he has held nothing back from us. He went so far as to give us his only Son, both on the cross and in the Eucharist. Let him reassure you that, however dark a situation may seem, you can always trust him.
“Jesus, thank you for the precious gift of your Body and Blood!” (Meditation on Luke 24:13-35, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on how Peter and John are doing, in the name of Jesus, what He had done even as they continue to pray as Jews in the Temple. Acts of the Apostles may be seen as the second version by Luke of Jesus' action set after the Ascension. Perhaps “we” are the unidentified person walking with Jesus to Emmaus. Luke, as a Stoic, may have favoured the gradual revelation of God’s Plan to us. Friar Jude identifies the teaching, Sacraments, Word, and personal encounter aspects of our experience of revelation of Christ.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares how we can receive the miracle of new life by embracing our own difficulties and “deaths” as Jesus did. Jesus’ death and resurrection is a statement of how reality works all the time and everywhere. He teaches us that there’s a different way to live with our pain, our sadness, and our suffering. We can say, “Woe is me,” and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can say, “God is even in this.”
None of us crosses over this gap from death to new life by our own effort, our own merit, our own purity, or our own perfection. Each of us—from pope to president, from princess to peasant—is carried across by unearned grace. Worthiness is never the ticket, only deep desire. With that desire the tomb is always, finally empty, as Mary Magdalene discovered on Easter morning. Death cannot win. We’re finally indestructible when we recognize that the thing which could destroy us is the very thing that could enlighten us.
Friends, the Easter feast is a reminder to all of us to open our eyes and our ears and to witness what is happening all around us, all the time, everywhere. God’s one and only job description is to turn death into life. That’s what God does with every new springtime, every new life, every new season, every new anything. God is the one who always turns death into life, and no one who trusts in this God will ever be put to shame (Psalm 25:3). (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the paradox of full life through death and celebrate our recognition of Jesus Presence in the celebrations and mourning of our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/3?1
Luke, CHAPTER 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/24?13
Meditation on Luke 24:13-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/23/1260889/
Naatz, S. (2025, April 23). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042325.html
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Death into Life. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/death-into-life/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Did Not Our Hearts Burn While He Opened to Us the Scriptures. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr23
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