HOMILY FOR THE WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER, LITURGICAL CALENDAR [YEAR B]
THEME: They recognised him at the breaking of bread.
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
READINGS OF THE DAY
Acts 3:1-10
Psalm 104:1-4,6-9
Luke 24:13-35
LITURGICAL COLOUR
WHITE
INTRODUCTION
Good morning my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate Wednesday within the Octave of Easter.
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FROM OUR FIRST READING
In our first reading today, we hear of the two Apostles, Peter and John, who came to the Temple of God in Jerusalem and encountered a man who was crippled from birth, and who asked them for some money, begging for his livelihood. We heard how Peter and John instead miraculously cured the man from his ailments, in the power and Name of the Risen Lord, showing the grace and love of God, which He has shown to those who have faith in Him and in His Providence.
FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
Jesus in today’s gospel is not recognized by two of His disciples on their way to Emmaus. Actually they were disappointed by the tragic end of the Lord. His death scatters and shatters their hopes and dreams. And Jesus explains the Scriptures to them and tries to put sense to the confusing events that happened in the holy city. He explains to them again the meaning of the prophecies about the Christ that He needs to suffer and dies for sins. And it is only in the breaking of the Bread, that the two disciples recognize Jesus. In our case, we are called to recognize Him in the Holy Eucharist through our faith. You know what Holy Scriptures and the Holy Eucharist are the two best ways of knowing Christ. It is because it is also by knowing Jesus in the “Word” that leads us to know Him fully in the Mystery of His Body and Blood which is the culmination of His love. Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the ‘making present and the sacramental offering’ of Christ (no. 1362). By His presence in the Eucharist He walks for us, with us in our life, and waiting for.
CONCLUSION
Dear brethrens, In difficult times, the risen Lord is journeying with us as he journeyed with the two disciples. He is present to us as our companion on the way, inviting us to share our story with him, speaking his word to us, just as he opened the Scriptures for his two disciples, revealing himself to us as bread of life. If we open ourselves to the Lord’s presence to us in these ways, we will be transformed as the two disciples were. Our sadness will turn to joy, our despair to hope, and we will begin to face again in the right direction. We will return to the gathering of the disciples, the community of believers, the church.
May the Risen Lord be with You, now and forever. Amen.
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