BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

But they were kept from recognizing him. – Luke 24:16

After giving a talk in Pampanga, the leaders invited me for lunch. They boasted of how delicious their local cuisines were and the restaurant where they served the best sisig. I got excited when they told me we were having our lunch there. But my chances of tasting their food looked bleak when we arrived at the restaurant. We were told that we would be on the waiting list. We waited for a while but none of the customers were leaving. My companions asked if it was OK with me if we go to another place. I tried my best to hide my hesitation and replied, “Sure.”

          They took me to an Italian restaurant where they ordered an abundant set of pasta, pizza, salad, and drinks. The food was delicious! The place was better than what we originally planned. We totally forgot about the time as we enjoyed the meal. We were saying our goodbyes in the parking lot when they handed me a brown paper bag. I opened it and saw a plastic container with the famous sisig I wanted!

              I realized that I was craving for only one dish but God had a bigger plan. Sometimes, we get frustrated when we don’t get what we want at the time we want it. We don’t see that God has something better prepared for us. But all we have to do is trust in His perfect timing. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Do you take time to see things in God’s perspective?

Lord, open my eyes so that I may see the bigger picture and trust in Your timing.

In the face of sickness and disability we are helpless. But Jesus is able and can heal us. Peter and John have nothing to give to the lame man other than their faith in the healing power of Jesus. The man received a tremendous gift and was healed in Jesus’ name. Let us pray for the gift of faith and the grace to speak words of healing like Peter and John did.

Acts 3:1-10

1 Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer. 2 And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4 But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” 7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. 8 He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.

PSALM

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R: Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! 4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant that he made binding for a thousand generations 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

GOSPEL

The “breaking of the bread” triggered a memory in the disciples and they recognized Jesus. This experience is unique to the relationship between Jesus and His disciples. Similarly, there are aspects of our relationships that are unique to the individual — it may be a mannerism, the tone of voice or a hairstyle. No matter how much a person’s appearance changes or how long it has been since you last met, that unique trait will always determine the person’s identity.

Two disciples went on a journey, away from Jesrusalem, to a town called Emmaus. Jerusalem was where everything happened: Jesus’ triumphal entry, His passion, death, and resurrection. e two disciples did not witness the resurrection. ey heard of it from “some women in our group” (see Luke 24:24) but they were so discouraged by the fact of Jesus’ death on the cross that they dismissed all news of Jesus’ rising as mere gossip and wishful thinking.

Thee Gospel speaks very little about Emmaus. All that we are told is that it is a small village “seven miles from Jerusalem” (v.13). Scholars note that Emmaus is northwest of Jerusalem. Therefore, the disciples were journeying West, in the direction of the setting sun. Walking in the direction of the setting sun was not only a geographical description, it was existential as well. Not only were they heading towards the setting sun; in their hearts, the sun has also set.  That is why they didn’t even recognize the Risen Jesus who accompanied them.  Their words to Him say it all: “But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (see v. 21).

Walking in the direction of the setting sun, they were accompanied and encouraged by the Risen Son. After explaining to them the Scriptures and breaking bread with them, their eyes were opened, and Jesus vanished from their sight, symbolic of the truth that the Risen One is now to be encountered in the Word and in the sacrament of His Body and Blood, that is, the Eucharist. Fr. Joel O. Jason

------ REFLECTION QUESTION -------

Church altars are usually built facing East, to signify the congregation’s desire to meet the Rising Son in every Eucharistic celebration. And as every Eucharist is celebrated all over the world, practically every moment of the day, Jesus becomes truly the “sun that never sets.” Are you headed in His direction?

As morning breaks, I look to You, O Lord. And night will find me proclaiming Your fidelity. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________