GOSPEL POWER l APRIL 20, 2022

Wednesday within the Octave  of Easter

Gospel: Lk 24:13-35 

13On that same day two of the disciples 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. 28As 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.  T he small dreams and shallow hopes of the disciples of  T he small dreams and shallow hopes of the disciples of  Emmaus regarding a national redemption have to be  thrown into crisis, so that they can be integrated into God’s  immense vision and plans for humanity and the entire creation. The  disciples have pinned their hopes on Jesus, forgetting that it is the  vocation of the entire nation Israel to be the instrument of God’s integral salvation. Now, the risen Christ, who continues to be the  Shepherd who goes after the straying sheep, enlightens them. By  evoking Israel’s Scriptures, the incognito Christ opens their minds  to how Jesus assumed Israel’s vocation to be the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.