Easter Wednesday

Today’s readings remind us that the Risen Lord does not just exceed our expectations; he transforms them. The crippled man in today’s First Reading was just expecting another handout from Peter and John, another moment in a lifetime of begging. In Jesus’ name he receives something that transforms his life: the ability to walk after being crippled from birth. He expected God to be good to him, but not to give him a new life. He knows where credit is due: as he enters the Temple area for everyone to see he praises God, and the very fact that he was walking astounds the people who knew him before.

The disciples on the way to Emmaus in today’s Gospel expected Our Lord to be more than a prophet, but apparently he didn’t meet their expectations. Did they ever believe him to be the Christ? It is hard to know, but now with the news of his death he seems to have been just one more prophet killed for being God’s witness. When Our Lord teaches them their foolishness he makes it clear from the beginning, even though they didn’t recognize him, that he was the Christ. When they finally recognize that he is not dead, but alive, and that he is not just another prophet, but the Christ of whom the prophets foretold, a Christ who was able to conquer death itself, they are changed from dejected people walking home into disciples running to Jerusalem to share the news.

What are your expectations for the Risen Lord this Easter season? He can transform a crippled life or a dejected one into a life filled with energy, hope, joy, and purpose. Place your trust in him and the results will astound you too.

Readings: Acts 3:1–10; Psalm 105:1–9; Luke 24:13–35. See also Easter Sunday, Mass During the Day (2) and Easter Wednesday.

Readings: Acts 3:1–10; Psalm 105:1–9; Luke 24:13–35.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus in today’s Gospel remind us that when the events of life just don’t seem to connect, or they don’t turn out as we expect, we need to listen more closely not only to what Our Lord is trying to tell us through situations and circumstance, but also what he has been trying to tell us all along. The disciples expected a type of savior and salvation that they didn’t get, and they couldn’t connect the dots on their own to understand what Jesus had been trying to teach them all along.

Jesus is the Word who connects all the dots in Sacred Scripture. He showed the disciples today how Sacred Scripture pointed to him, to what he must undergo, and to what would happen as a result. He wants to shed light on our lives through meditating on his words. If you’re having a hard time connecting the dots and understanding life, seek out Jesus in Sacred Scripture and he will help you to understand. Listen to him more closely and ask him to explain whatever you don’t understand about life. He always has an answer.