Daily Readings - Wed Apr 03 2024
Acts
1Now Peter and John went up to the temple at the ninth hour of prayer2And a certain man, who was lame from his mother’s womb, was being carried in. They would lay him every day at the gate of the temple, which is called the Beautiful, so that he might request alms from those entering into the temple3And this man, when he had seen Peter and John beginning to enter the temple, was begging, so that he might receive alms4Then Peter and John, gazing at him, said, "Look at us.5And he looked intently at them, hoping that he might receive something from them6But Peter said: "Silver and gold is not mine. But what I have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk.7And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up. And immediately his legs and feet were strengthened8And leaping up, he stood and walked around. And he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God9And all the people saw him walking and praising God10And they recognized him, that he was the same one who was sitting for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him
Luke
13And behold, two of them went out, on the same day, to a town named Emmaus, which was the distance of sixty stadia from Jerusalem14And they spoke to one another about all of these things that had occurred15And it happened that, while they were speculating and questioning within themselves, Jesus himself, drawing near, traveled with them16But their eyes were restrained, so that they would not recognize him17And he said to them, "What are these words, which you are discussing with one another, as you walk and are sad?18And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, responded by saying to him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?19And he said to them, "What things?" And they said, "About Jesus of Nazareth, who was a noble prophet, powerful in works and in words, before God and all the people20And how our high priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death. And they crucified him21But we were hoping that he would be the Redeemer of Israel. And now, on top of all this, today is the third day since these things have happened22Then, too, certain women from among us terrified us. For before daytime, they were at the tomb23and, having not found his body, they returned, saying that they had even seen a vision of Angels, who said that he is alive24And some of us went out to the tomb. And they found it just as the women had said. But truly, they did not find him.25And he said to them: "How foolish and reluctant in heart you are, to believe everything that has been spoken by the Prophets26Was not the Christ required to suffer these things, and so enter into his glory?27And beginning from Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them, in all the Scriptures, the things that were about him28And they drew near to the town where they were going. And he conducted himself so as to go on further29But they were insistent with him, saying, "Remain with us, because it is toward evening and now daylight is declining." And so he entered with them30And it happened that, while he was at table with them, he took bread, and he blessed and broke it, and he extended it to them31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their eyes32And they said to one another, "Was not our heart burning within us, while he was speaking on the way, and when he opened the Scriptures to us?33And rising up at that same hour, they returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them34saying: "In truth, the Lord has risen, and he has appeared to Simon.35And they explained the things that were done on the way, and how they had recognized him at the breaking of the bread
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of recognition and faith. The first, from Acts 3:1-10, tells the story of Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple gate. This man, who had been unable to walk since birth, is placed at the Beautiful Gate to beg. Peter and John, moved by faith, heal him in the name of Jesus, and he rises, walks, and praises God. This miracle astonishes the crowd and highlights the power of faith and the authority of Jesus's name.
The second reading, from Luke 24:13-35, recounts the journey of two disciples to Emmaus after Jesus's crucifixion. They are deep in sorrow and confusion, discussing the events of Jesus's death. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus joins them on their journey and explains the Scriptures, revealing how they point to his suffering and resurrection. When they reach Emmaus, Jesus breaks bread with them, and their eyes are opened to recognize him. This moment of recognition is a beautiful illustration of how Jesus reveals Himself, often in the simplest of acts, like the Eucharist.
Both readings share a common theme of recognition and faith. In Acts, the lame man's healing is a physical manifestation of God's power, while in Luke, the disciples experience a spiritual awakening. These stories remind us to trust in God's power and to seek Jesus in our daily lives, especially in moments of doubt or sorrow. Just as the lame man and the disciples encountered Jesus, we too can find Him in prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist.
As we reflect on these readings, let us be encouraged to live with faith and openness to God's presence. May we recognize Jesus in our daily encounters and trust in His power to transform our lives. Let us also share the Good News with others, just as the disciples rushed back to Jerusalem to spread the word of Jesus's resurrection. In doing so, we embody the spirit of faith and community that these stories inspire.