Daily Readings - Wed Apr 04 2018
Acts
1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.2And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.4And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.6But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.8And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.9And all the people saw him walking and praising God,10and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Luke
13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.17And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.18Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"19And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,23and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."25And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,29but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.32They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,34saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that illuminate the transformative power of faith and the presence of the risen Christ. The first reading from Acts describes Peter and John healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. This man, who had been crippled from birth, was a familiar figure to the people, often placed there to beg for alms. When Peter and John pass by, they do not offer money but something far more profound: healing in the name of Jesus Christ. The man, filled with faith, rises and walks, praising God. This miracle not only restores the man physically but also draws the attention of the crowd, pointing them to the power of faith and the presence of God.
The Gospel reading from Luke tells the story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, struggling to come to terms with the events of Jesus' crucifixion and the reports of his resurrection. Jesus joins them, though they do not recognize him. He listens to their confusion and sorrow, then gently opens their minds to the Scriptures, showing how all of it points to his own suffering and glory. When they press him to stay, he breaks bread with them, and in that moment, their eyes are opened. They recognize him, and he vanishes. Filled with joy and understanding, they rush back to Jerusalem to share the news with the others.
These readings are deeply connected. Both highlight the theme of recognition—of seeing God at work in unexpected ways. In Acts, the lame man and the crowd recognize the power of God through Peter and John. In Luke, the disciples on the road to Emmaus come to recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread. Both stories also emphasize the importance of faith and trust in God's plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or difficult. The lame man trusted Peter and John, and the disciples trusted in the stranger who walked with them, opening their hearts to the truth.
In our own lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we recognize God's presence. Do we, like the lame man, trust in the power of faith, even when we feel limited or helpless? Do we, like the disciples, open our hearts to the possibility of encountering Christ in the unexpected moments of our journey? The readings remind us that God is always at work, even when we do not immediately see or understand. They call us to trust in his plan, to remain open to his presence, and to live with the confidence that he can transform even the most broken parts of our lives. May we, like the lame man and the disciples, experience the joy of recognizing God's presence and the transformative power of his love.