DAILY- HOMILY

April 30, 2017 - 3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER

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Acts 2: 14, 22- 33 / 1 Pt 1: 17- 21 / Lk 24: 13- 35

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Lk 24: 28- 32

     As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, "Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is almost over." So he went to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece,

     Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished from their sight. And they said to each other, "Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?"

REFLECTION

     As we read about the two despondent disciples of Jesus on their way to Emmaus, we can ask ourselves, "What road am I travelling at the moment? Am I heading where God wants me to go?"

     Though the two disciples were walking away from the community of the close followers of Jesus, Jesus came to walk with them. Though we may turn our backs to God, God will never give up on us. We might not be on the right path; God nonetheless will remain with us.

     The two disciples did not recognize Jesus when Jesus joined them. Often we do not recognize God's presence with us: we may not be looking for him; we may not be expecting him; we may have closed our eyes to his presence, our ears to his voice, and our hearts to his urgings. God is always with us, walking alongside us, even if we are unaware of his loving presence.

     It is consoling to know that Jesus takes time to find what the disciples were discussing. Jesus met them and meets us where we are. Just as he asked the two what they were talking about, he invites us to share with him where we are and what is going on in our lives, the good things as well as the bad. God is interested in everything in our lives. He is greatly concerned with every aspect of our lives.

     Jesus pointed out to the two disciples what Scripture had said about the Messiah: slowly he led them to see that death was part of God's plan of salvation. The challenge for us is to learn to listen to what God is telling us. This requires we keep open our communication with God, in prayer, in quiet reading and reflection, in teachings from and dealings with others. Hopefully we are able to listen to God speaking to us, just as the two listened to Jesus.

     Enraptured by their conversation with the stranger, the two invite him to be their guest. What would have happened if the two had not asked the stranger to stay with them? They would never have known and recognized the Lord.

     In the home of the two, Jesus "took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight." (Lk 24: 30 - 31)

     The two recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread. And looking back at their journey with the stranger, "Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?" (Lk 24: 32)

     The two were transformed by their encounter with the Risen Jesus. If we are open to God, we too can experience the same change, discover renewed purpose, hope and joy in our lives, knowing that Jesus who has conquered death shares our journey, bringing us new faith and hope.

     As we journey through life, we are called to walk with Jesus. The road to Emmaus is a symbol of Christian life enabling us to see that the Risen Lord gives hope and joy and that we are never alone. The Risen Jesus always walks with us. As we walk with him, our road becomes a great journey of companionship and conversation, of faith and hope.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY 

     FILOMENA LL NARANJILLA

     VLADIMIR MANUEL

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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