Faith Daily | 7 April 2021
PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER
Almighty God,
you have conquered death
through your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ
and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant us by your grace to set our mind on things above,
so that by your continual help
our whole life may be transformed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
in everlasting glory.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 24: 13-35
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles* from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad.* 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ 19He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth,* who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.* Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ 25Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah* should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us* while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Cheryl Courtice
“The walk to Emmaus is every disciple’s walk into the disillusionment served up at times by life.” johnmckinnon.org
“We had hoped...seen a vision of angels...slow of heart to believe”, but now we are heading down the road into a dark night, wondering what lies ahead.
We then talk to others, share our challenges and eventually, every time, someone or something will open our eyes to the possibilities available.
“Jesus himself came near and went with them...he interpreted to them the things...”
At first, we might not recognise Jesus in the someone or something that opens our eyes but, again eventually, with our hearts burning within us, we recognise His ability to make sense of things...the meaning of life becomes clearer and the darkness becomes light.
Jesus does not force himself upon us, he awaits our invitation to come in. When we offer this hospitality... “Jesus blesses this small act of generosity with the revelation of his presence.” Theologyofwork.org
“The Christian goes onward, not to a night which falls, but to a dawn which breaks.” Studylight.org
FINAL PRAYER: Fay Inchfawn wrote,
Sometimes, when everything goes wrong;
When days are short and nights are long;
When wash-day brings so dull a sky
That not a single thing will dry.
And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
And when there's naught so 'queer' as folks!
When friends deplore my faded youth,
And when the baby cuts a tooth.
While John, the baby last but one,
Clings round my skirts till day is done;
And fat, good-tempered Jane is glum,
And butcher's man forgets to come.
Sometimes I say on days like these,
I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
Not on some sunny day of ease,
He'll come ... but on a day like this!
Amen