Their eyes were opened
Published Apr 20, 2022 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
Frustrations are very much part of our life. When our plans and dreams are blocked or not realized, we get frustrated. The greater the hope and energy we invest on something, the greater the possibility of frustration, too, if it fails. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are nursing (“journeying with”) their frustrations over the events of the past days in Jerusalem. They have invested their hopes on Jesus; they really think he is the one they are waiting for, only to be crushed by witnessing his brutal death on the cross. Their sadness and frustration clouds their memory completely, at which point Jesus comes and walks with them to slowly remove the clouds from their eyes and minds and remind them again of what the Scriptures said of him. And their eyes are opened, especially when he breaks bread with them, again.
GOSPEL • Luke 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus...
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” ... “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene... how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel... Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive... And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight...
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
Frustrations are very much part of our life. When our plans and dreams are blocked or not realized, we get frustrated. The greater the hope and energy we invest on something, the greater the possibility of frustration, too, if it fails. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are nursing (“journeying with”) their frustrations over the events of the past days in Jerusalem. They have invested their hopes on Jesus; they really think he is the one they are waiting for, only to be crushed by witnessing his brutal death on the cross. Their sadness and frustration clouds their memory completely, at which point Jesus comes and walks with them to slowly remove the clouds from their eyes and minds and remind them again of what the Scriptures said of him. And their eyes are opened, especially when he breaks bread with them, again.
GOSPEL • Luke 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus...
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” ... “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene... how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel... Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive... And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight...
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.