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| "The Pilgrims of Emmaus on the Road" - by James Tissot |
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
FIRST
READING: Acts 3: 1 - 10
1
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer,
the ninth hour.
2
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at
that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of
those who entered the temple.
3
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
4
And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look
at us."
5
And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something
from them.
6
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what
I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
7
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately
his feet and ankles were made strong.
8
And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them,
walking and leaping and praising God.
9
And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10
and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate
of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what
had happened to him.
PSALM: Psalms 105: 1 - 4, 6 - 9
1 O
give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among
the peoples!
2
Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD
rejoice!
4
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually!
6 O
offspring of Abraham his servant, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
8
He is mindful of his covenant for ever, of the word that he
commanded, for a thousand generations,
9
the covenant which he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac.
GOSPEL: Luke 24: 13 - 35
13
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us,
about seven miles from Jerusalem,
14
and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew
near and went with them.
16
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17
And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are
holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still,
looking sad.
18
Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the
only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have
happened there in these days?"
19
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him,
"Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people,
20
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned
to death, and crucified him.
21
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and
besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.
22
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb
early in the morning
23
and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had
even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as
the women had said; but him they did not see."
25
And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and
enter into his glory?"
27
And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He
appeared to be going further,
29
but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is
toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to
stay with them.
30
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and
broke it, and gave it to them.
31
And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished
out of their sight.
32
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us
while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the
scriptures?"
33
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they
found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them,
34
who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to
Simon!"
35
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to
them in the breaking of the bread.
