Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
Walking With The Lord
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
It may happen to us, as to the disciples on Emmaus, that we are discouraged and disillusioned on our pilgrim of life. Without being aware of the Lord’s presence, we travel, we converse with strangers or friends, we eat meals, we are indifferent or have little hope. But questioned by the words and the presence of the Risen Lord, we journey forward with him as our brother and Lord; we recognise him with one another, particularly in our Eucharistic assemblies. We become a people of hope. We recognise him when we break bread for one another. And when we share what we have with one another. And if so, people may perhaps recognise him also in us. Like the lame man in the first reading, we get on our feet, jump about with joy and hope, and praise God in word and deed.
Opening Prayer (1)
God, our Father,
You are a God not of the dead
None of those paralysed by their fears and limitations
But the God of the living.
Raise us up and make us walk forward
in joy and hope,
as companions on the road
of him, whom you raised from the dead,
Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord forever.
Or Opening Prayer (2)
Lord, our God,
Your son is in our midst
but his face is hidden.
Help us to recognise him
in our companions on the road:
in the man who has no food or job,
in the woman who has been deserted,
in the child begging at the street corner.
Give us a heart,
that we may not pass them by with vacant eyes;
for this man or this child or this woman
is your Son for us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
First Reading
Healing of a Paralytic
Once, when Peter and John were going up to the temple at three in the afternoon, the hour of prayer,
a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day, they would bring him and set him at the temple gate called ‘Beautiful’; there, he begged from those entering the temple.
When he saw Peter and John on their way into the temple, he asked for alms.
Then Peter, with John beside him, looked straight at him and said:
“Look at us.”
So he looked at them, expecting to get something from them.
But Peter said:
“I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”
Then, he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. Immediately, his feet and ankles became strong,
and jumping up, he stood on his feet and began to walk. He went with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
All the people saw him walking and praising God;
they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.
Responsorial Psalm
R.(3b) Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations--
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sequence -- optional
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
That same day, two followers of Jesus were heading to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem
and they were talking to each other about everything that had happened.
but they didn’t recognize him.
While they discussed these things, Jesus himself approached and started walking with them,
He asked:
“What exactly are you talking about?”
The two stood still, looking sad.
Then the one named Cleophas responded:
“Why, it seems you are the only traveler to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened there these past few days.”
And he asked:
“What is it?”
They replied:
“It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people.
But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified.
We had hoped that he would redeem Israel. It has now been three days since all this happened.
Also, some women from our group caused us trouble. When they went to the tomb at dawn,
they did not find his body; and they told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.
Some of our people went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had described, but they did not find a body in the tomb.”
He said to them:
“How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand?
Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?”
Then, beginning with Moses and the prophets, he explained to them everything in the Scriptures that concerned himself.
As they approached the village they were heading for, Jesus appeared to go farther.
But they insisted:
“Stay with us, for night falls quickly. The day is almost done.”
So he went in to stay with them.
When they sat at the table, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another:
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?”
They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together.
They were greeted with these words:
“Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!”
Then the two recounted what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus revealed himself when he broke bread with them.
Prayers of the Faithful
– Risen Lord, journey with your Church when it is persecuted or struggling with hardships that threaten its unity, we pray:
– Risen Lord, journey with your communities when they are beset by strife, injustices and loss of fervor, we pray:
– Risen Lord, keep walking with us when we are confused, in doubt or slow to understand you, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of light and life,
we are dull of hearts and slow to understand
how your Son journeys with us
every moment of life.
Help us to recognize his presence
in these humble signs of bread and wine
and let him put fire in our hearts
when we hear his words
and become aware of his nearness
in this Eucharist, in the events of life,
and in the people around us,
for he is our Risen Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
we have heard your Son’s words
that question our apathy and gloom
and he has stirred our hearts.
We sat at table with him
and he broke for us the bread of himself.
Send us out now to our brothers and sisters
to bring them the Good News,
that your Son is risen and alive,
and that now, we can go with one another
his journey of life and hope.
We ask you this in the name of Jesus, the Lord,
who lives with you and stays with us,
now and for ever.
Blessing
With the Gospel of today, could we say together with the disciples of Emmaus: “Were not our hearts burning within us, when Jesus was walking with us on the road and speaking his Good News to us?” May the Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit
REFLECTION:
Lk. 24: 13-25
From despair to pilgrims of hope
Today, the Gospel gives an account of the journey of the two disciples to Emmaus. The Emmaus incident is recorded only in the Gospel according to Luke. The walk to Emmaus represents our journey through life's disappointments. Their dreams had been shattered by the shame and humiliation of the cross. “We were hoping that He was the one to save us”, say the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
We had hoped that our marriage would remain intact and our family would stay united. We had hoped that wars, violence, and terrorism would come to an end. We had hoped that our children would continue to be active members of the Church. We, too, are often like the disciples, with shattered dreams and hopes.
As for the disciples, it was a journey made at the wrong time. In Matthew 28:7, it is mentioned that the angel at the tomb instructed Mary Magdalene to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus had been raised from the dead and that he was going ahead of them to Galilee, where they would see him. However, two of the disciples ignored this instruction and made a wrong journey. The Gospel teaches us the importance of adhering to the teachings of the Lord to stay on the right path and avoid derailment.
It is in the act of Breaking of the Bread that they recognise Jesus. Both the breaking of the Scripture while on the road and the breaking of the Bread in the evening constituted that day’s Eucharist. The experience was transformative and changed them for ever. When we encounter the Lord in the Eucharist, in the Word of God and among those around us, we cannot be the same again.
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Luke 24: 13-35
Rereading our lives in the light of faith
The Gospel recounts the encounter between the Risen Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Disheartened by His death, they leave Jerusalem, burdened by sadness and uncertainty. Though Jesus walks beside them, they do not recognise Him. He asks about their sorrow and patiently listens as they recount recent events. Then, He helps them reinterpret their experiences in the light of Scripture, transforming their grief into understanding.
Like the disciples, we often struggle with disappointments, unanswered questions, and the weight of our daily burdens. But Jesus invites us to do what the disciples did—tell Him everything. He longs for our honesty, not perfect words. When we bring our joys and struggles to Him, He can rekindle the fire in our hearts.
One way to do this is by practising an evening examination of conscience. Pope Francis encourages us to ask: How was my day? Where did I find joy? Where did I struggle? Were there hidden graces for which to give thanks? Were there wounds to surrender to Jesus? By rereading our day with Him, we begin to see our lives through His eyes, discovering His presence even in difficulties.
In Christ’s light, our struggles—whether a heavy cross, a difficult choice, or a painful mistake—can become paths to growth. But we must be open, setting aside our defences and allowing His truth to penetrate our hearts.
Let us begin today. Let us spend time with Jesus each evening, sharing our hearts with him so that, like the disciples of Emmaus, we may recognise Him walking with us. May Mary, the wise Virgin, help us to see our lives anew in the light of the Risen Lord.