BEADS
OF JOY 05-04-14
“Their Eyes Were Open”
©2014 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
“Their Eyes Were Open”
©2014 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
Today's
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
(The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus) “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 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. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 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, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up 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 this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 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. 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." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 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. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
(The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus) “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 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. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 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, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up 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 this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 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. 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." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, 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. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. 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?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
My Friends,
Are we like those in today’s gospel, in that while Jesus stands in our
midst; we don’t see Him? Jesus, the Risen Lord is always here for us. Each day
we have the gospels to enrich our lives. Each day we have the Rosary and its
scripture and our Lady who is always fully focused on leading us to our Lord.
Each day is a fresh and new day for us to spend time with our Lord in prayer
and adoration. Each day if we chose to, we can be with Him at Mass. Each day if
we chose to, we can spend time with Him at adoration. Each day we can nourish
our Spirit, enlighten our lives and prepare for our eternity with Him. The
question is: Do we see Him? Do we recognize that it is He who is speaking to
us?
Take a moment and think about the journey to Emmaus. Have you ever walked
seven miles? I have, but the road to Emmaus wasn’t like a walk you or I would
typically take. The bottom line is that seven miles is a considerably long hard
walk. It’s a commitment that once you start and get into, there’s no backing
out of it; you’ve begun and you are along the way, now you are committed. So
walking and talking with someone becomes a simple focus as to who you are
talking to. They had no distractions, no iPhones and no iPods. But yet they
couldn’t recognize that it was Jesus that they were speaking with. Scripture
clearly states, “But their eyes were
kept from recognizing him.” Hmmm I wonder why.
When I reflect upon this gospel, I consider this. This is my heart of
faith with the guidance of the Holy Spirit that clearly sees it this way… God
did not want those speaking to Jesus to recognize Him immediately. Why? First
and foremost He was to educate them, and who better to educate them but Jesus.
Today’s gospel tells us that Jesus said, “And
he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these
things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the
prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself.” And in doing so the way He did this: These travelers
listened, they were not looking at Jesus in Awe as the Risen Lord (yet),
distracting their focus from listening to Him, because they could very well be
staring at Him; but rather listening to learn and more clearly understanding
what He was teaching them.
Then reading further into today’s gospel, “he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their
eyes were opened and they recognized him” I see here how our Lord
turned these men into solid, well-educated believers. Look what they said, “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?"” There’s no doubt in my mind that this is God’s
will for all of us; that we listen and learn and stay focused on all things
Jesus. For once we do that and then we spend much time before the Eucharist; we
too will have our eyes open to Him and our hearts will burn with that same love
for Him.
Reflection: To me an Educated Believer isn’t one with a “degree” from some college. NO, rather a person with an understanding to whatever “degree”
they so understand that Jesus Christ is Lord; and that He died for them in
their place for their sins, so that they, the Educated Believer might live
eternally with Jesus in Heaven. Our education must be in JESUS. Allow Jesus to
live in your heart, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, ask our Lady to show you
the way.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
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Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
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