Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 24, 2019
Psalm 105
1O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.2Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.3Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.4Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;6O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.7He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.8He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.9Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;10And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:11Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:12When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.13When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;14He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;15Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.16Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.17He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:18Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.20The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:22To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.23Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.24And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.25He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.26He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.27They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.28He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.29He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.30Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.31He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.32He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.33He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.34He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,35And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.36He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.37He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.38Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.39He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.40The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.42For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:44And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Gospel: Luke 24.13-35
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 Gospel, we encounter two disciples on the road to Emmaus, their hearts heavy with grief and confusion following the crucifixion of Jesus. As they walk, they are joined by a stranger who is, unbeknownst to them, the risen Jesus. Their conversation reveals their shattered hopes, as they had believed Jesus to be the Messiah who would redeem Israel. Jesus listens patiently, then opens their eyes to the Scriptures, revealing how his journey of suffering and resurrection was foretold. As they reach Emmaus, Jesus breaks bread with them, and in that moment, they recognize him. He vanishes, leaving them to rush back to Jerusalem, eager to share the news of his resurrection.
This passage is set in the context of the days following the crucifixion, a time of despair and confusion for the disciples. Luke's narrative emphasizes the fulfillment of Scripture, as Jesus himself guides the disciples through the Old Testament, highlighting how his life, death, and resurrection were part of God's plan. The story underscores the importance of faith and understanding through the lens of Scripture, even in moments of darkness.
In our daily lives, we may often feel like these disciples—struggling to recognize God's presence amidst our trials. Yet, just as Jesus walked with them, he is with us, guiding us through life's challenges. The Eucharist, as seen in the breaking of bread, reminds us of the nourishment and grace we receive to sustain our faith. Let us, like the disciples, find joy in recognizing God's presence in our lives and in the community of believers. May we remain faithful, support one another, and always seek to understand God's plan, trusting in His divine providence.