For 23 April 2025, Easter Wednesday, based on Luke 24:13–25
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then 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?” He 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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and 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. Some 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.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!”
Today’s reading from the first ten verses of chapter 3 of the Acts of the Apostles sets the liturgical stage for our annual proclamation at today’s and tomorrow’s liturgy of the Lukan account of the risen Jesus encountering two disheartened disciples on the road to Emmaus.
In the post-resurrection Book of Acts, Peter and John, going to the Temple to pray, encounter a man crippled from birth begging at the Beautiful Gate. They do not have silver or gold, but Peter tells the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And Peter takes him by the hand and raises him up, and the man crippled from birth passes through the gate into the temple precincts, walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3:6–9).
As we journeyed through the season of Lent to the Beautiful Gate of Holy Week, we disciples spoke so many times together about our dashed hopes and immense sadness for our world. And then once again, our Savior came to meet us. During the sacred enactments of Holy Week, Jesus took us by the hand. He opened the Scriptures and broke the Bread, and we recognized him.
As with the first disciples and countless other believers, our hearts once again burn within us. Like the man who went in through the Beautiful Gate, we walk and leap and praise God. We rejoice, for the LORD is risen. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad” (Ps 118:24).
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 
23 Apr 2025
0 CommentsWalking and Leaping and Praising God
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Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then 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?” He 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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and 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. Some 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.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!”
Today’s reading from the first ten verses of chapter 3 of the Acts of the Apostles sets the liturgical stage for our annual proclamation at today’s and tomorrow’s liturgy of the Lukan account of the risen Jesus encountering two disheartened disciples on the road to Emmaus.
In the post-resurrection Book of Acts, Peter and John, going to the Temple to pray, encounter a man crippled from birth begging at the Beautiful Gate. They do not have silver or gold, but Peter tells the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And Peter takes him by the hand and raises him up, and the man crippled from birth passes through the gate into the temple precincts, walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3:6–9).
As we journeyed through the season of Lent to the Beautiful Gate of Holy Week, we disciples spoke so many times together about our dashed hopes and immense sadness for our world. And then once again, our Savior came to meet us. During the sacred enactments of Holy Week, Jesus took us by the hand. He opened the Scriptures and broke the Bread, and we recognized him.
As with the first disciples and countless other believers, our hearts once again burn within us. Like the man who went in through the Beautiful Gate, we walk and leap and praise God. We rejoice, for the LORD is risen. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad” (Ps 118:24).
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.