Easter Wednesday
Acts 3:1-10
Lk 24:13-35
…our hearts burn within us …
Hallelujah! The Lord is risen! As we continue our celebrations this Eastertide, let us bask in the glory of the resurrection. We take the 50 days of Eastertide to contemplate our new life, our new identity given through his sacrifice and resurrection and our steps forward.
During Eastertide, the first readings of mass always come from the Acts of the Apostles, as it chronicles the founding of the Lord’s church — our church. I find that relatable and fitting as we look back to how the early Christians reacted to the Lord’s sacrifice and triumph over sin and death.
The gospel reading from Luke ties in with how His disciples reacted after the discovery of the empty tomb. In Luke 24, we see Jesus on the road with us, talking, explaining and revealing to his disciples so that they may have the Living Word. He interpreted to Cleopas and his companion all these things so that they may come to see, hear and believe
There is a phrase that jumps out at me, ‘their faces were downcast’. It is so clear that, like Cleopas, I have sometimes walked my new path as a Christian, often without the joy and hope one should have after receiving the Good News. Something prevented them from recognising him (Luke 24:16); what obstacles do we have that keep us from recognising the gift of life, the gift of Jesus walking by our side?
I am often so mired in the muck of life that I forget (how quickly) that all I need to do is look up, look, really look and realise Jesus has been walking with me the whole time. Like Cleopas, my own foolishness, and my slowness to believe the full message, is what’s stopping me from seeing Him. Jesus has never hidden himself. Instead in his faithfulness, He has given me graces to receive His love.
During warden duty at church, I assisted an elderly lady who resides in a nursing home. Once a year on her birthday, kind volunteers arrange for her to come for mass to be with Jesus at the sacrament of the Eucharist. A volunteer pays for wheelchair transport and comes with her. I was so moved by Jesus in the volunteer, who gave her time, money and effort to journey on that special day with her. I also saw Jesus through the joy of the elderly lady receiving the Eucharist and receiving a special birthday blessing from the priest.
She recognised Jesus at the breaking of the bread — which is the essence of Luke 24:25–35 — Jesus revealed to us in the midst of life’s journeys with all its confusion, hopelessness, even despair. Even if she could only attend mass once a year, she took so much joy in it, relishing in what she had received in that moment. Her face was hardly downcast; her eyes were open.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us celebrate the Risen Jesus – fully resurrected — revealing himself on the journey as He explains and enflames us. Let us celebrate the Risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread and the communion and fellowship with each other. Let us remind each other of the moments our hearts burned within us when we heard the scriptures…and our eyes were opened.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Julia Lim)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I always look up and see you walking next to me, talking to me, breaking bread with me. May my heart burn as the Living word abides in me and the scriptures form me. Let me proclaim to the world that the Lord has risen!
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and patience, even as I am such a foolish person.
OXYGEN 
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