From the responsorial psalm: “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. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 24:13-35)
As two of Jesus’ disciples are walking toward Emmaus, discussing recent events about him, a man they don’t recognize asks what they are talking about. In their sadness and disappointment, they explain to the man that they thought Jesus would save Israel but was instead crucified. Jesus explains all of this to them in terms of how the Messiah had to suffer according to the Scriptures. While he stays with them, Jesus breaks bread, and the disciples immediately recognize him. And then he disappears. Returning to the Eleven in Jerusalem, they tell them that the Jesus has been raised and appeared to Simon, and the two disciples share their story of recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
God, help me see Jesus your Son with the eyes of faith when he appears in the needs of others. The disciples were discouraged but quickly regained their hope as they begin to realize that what Jesus said about dying and rising was true. Give me the grace to strengthen my faith in the resurrection and confront any doubts I have that prevent me from trusting in your mercy and almighty power. From the sequence of the readings: “Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.”