First reading: Acts 2:14,22–28

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

“My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld

nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Second reading: 1 Pt. 1:17–21

Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel: Lk. 24:13–35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

In other words 

Fr. Emil Lim, SVD (Catholic Trade, Manila)

Among the more exciting things in life are our discoveries. That is why I enjoy watching Discovery Channel and other reality shows on TV. It is fascinating to know and see things and places that are just out there; they exist, but now we can enjoy them in vivid color and stunning cinematography in the comfort of our living room. But nothing compares with our personal discoveries about God; not that we did it on our own, but that we are privileged to experience God.

The value of the Emmaus story in the Easter narrative is the apparition. It was an encounter with the risen Jesus, a life-altering experience of reality, something new, something the disciples never thought possible, a confirmation of their belief, a fulfillment of a promise. God often comes to us miraculously to stun us out of our fear and unbelief. It is the golden moment of discovering God’s power, experiencing his love, finding hope, and rekindling faith. Life is worth living, and death is not so terrifying after all.

The Gospel, in telling this Easter story, wants to convey the emotion of the event. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” We should not miss the dramatic transition from mourning to joy, defeat to triumph, oblivion to revelation, depression to excitement, and death to life. I could almost hear the crescendo of the cinematic soundtrack as the story unfolds. Didn’t you feel that emotional transition in our liturgical celebration of the Paschal Triduum?

The disciples’ fault was quitting too early. Before they threw in the towel, Jesus was like saying, “Wait, wait, wait, wait, I am not quite done yet!” How easily we fall into the same trap. A few more strides, and we could have finished the marathon. A few more inches, and we could grasp the treasured gold. A few more hours of sweat and tears and success is within reach. But we saw precious blood spilled on the cross and an empty tomb, and things didn’t seem to turn out as hoped for. And that’s it! We left our Jerusalem.

To their credit, when darkness begins to fall, we can borrow from them the simplest evening prayer found in the Bible: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” When evening sets in life, turn to the Word of God, let Jesus speak, and break bread with him. These are spiritual resources readily available to us for our journey. Let us make the most of them.

Do you have your own Emmaus encounter with Jesus, that defining moment in your relationship with God? Cherish it, relive it, and write it out if you can, as a testimony of your faith in the resurrection and the new life in Christ Jesus.