Reflection for Wednesday, April 15th 2020

​Today’s Readings: Please read them!
 
Acts 3:1-10 – Peter heals a man who was crippled since birth
Psalm 105 -  Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord
Luke 24:12-35 -  Jesus on the road to Emmaus
 
Today’s Gospel is one of my very favorite gospel stories.
 
On Holy Thursday the gospel told us that Jesus initiated the Eucharist at the Passover meal.  He blessed and broke the unleavened bread, transforming it into his body, and shared it with his disciples.  Then he blessed the cup of wine dedicated to redemption, transformed it into his precious blood, and shared that with his disciples. When he told them to “do this in remembrance of me”, he initiated the priesthood.  This was the first Mass. 
 
Then Jesus died on the cross, and was raised from the dead, making ‘all things new.’
 
Today we read in Luke’s gospel the account of the first Mass that Jesus celebrated after the Resurrection.  On the road to Emmaus with the 2 disciples, we read, “beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.”  At Mass we call that the “Liturgy of the Word.”  The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) is opened up to us, and we hear prophecies about ‘the one who is coming.’
 
Later, the disciples confessed that when Jesus explained the Scriptures, their hearts burned within them.  When you read scripture, or hear it proclaimed, does your heart burn within you?
 
When they reached Emmaus, and they convinced Jesus to stay for supper, “he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.”  At Mass we call that ‘The Liturgy of the Eucharist.”
 
Jesus “was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”  Do you recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread?  Do you KNOW that it is Jesus that you receive each time you receive the Eucharist? 
 
This story in Luke’s gospel gives us a clear picture of the first Mass celebrated by Jesus following the Resurrection.  This is what we celebrate each time we attend Mass.
 
Let’s pray that we will celebrate together one day soon.
 
In Christ’s Peace…
Carol Mullins