Daily Readings - Wed Apr 04 2018
First Reading - Acts 3.1-10
Acts
1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.9And all the people saw him walking and praising God:10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Gospel - Luke 24.13-35
Luke
13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of 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.