Eucharistic Readings for Wednesday of Easter Week: All Years
Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-8, or Psalm 118:19-24; Luke 24:13-35
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24: 30 and 31)
This is a fascinating story about the two on the road to Emmaus. However, this is not the first time Jesus was not recognized after His Resurrection. Let us recall Mary Magdelene at His tomb when she turned from talking with angels to whom she thought was a gardener until Jesus called her by name and she realized it was her Lord. (John 20:14 to 16)
The two on the road to Emmaus realized who Jesus was only after He took bread, blessed it, divided it up and gave it to them. This is the Four Step Way of Christ. Christ is the same way with us in our coming together. Christ receives us as one body, Blesses us, then sends us back out into the world anew, giving Himself to the world. I have been asked by potential newcomers, “When does Church service begin?” My response, “At the dismissal.” This is when we go back out into the world as did the two from Emmaus: “That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” (Luke 24:33 to 35)
Our Lord Jesus could stand right before us, and we not know who He is. It is only when we allow ourselves to be taken, blessed, broken, and given, that we become aware of who Jesus is.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (BCP p. 223)
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 