+ Our readings today are among the most beautiful, and
heart-warming in all of scripture.
In
the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we have the story of Peter and
John going to the “Beautiful Gate” of the Temple – a fitting backdrop for this beautiful
exchange between the crippled man and the Apostles. Today was not just his
“lucky day” – it was the day preplanned by God to restore his health and get
him leaping, jumping and walking around and praising God.
There are preplanned days for our own release
from crippling circumstances and situations – but we must show up at the
“Beautiful Gate” of our own minds and hearts and souls – and make an act of
will to believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus: and a “miracle” will happen for
us: most likely almost immediately! and our beings will leap for joy – and we
will have an amazing impact on the people that we meet just in our ordinary
activities of our day!
The gospel passage is classic
and foundational to the structure of our Mass. First Jesus walks and talks with
two of his disciples but does not let them know who he is, he explains the
scriptures to them regarding themselves, then he goes in and breaks bread with
them: is this not the very structure of our Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, and
the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It was in the breaking of the bread that they
recognized him: but this time he does not vanish: this time: he is the bread,
he is the wine: and these we take into ourselves and they becomes us: Jesus
BECOMES US: and we in turn BECOME HIM: and this is why he insisted on us doing
this: receiving his mystical presence: so that when his and our Father in
heaven looks down on us: he can literally see his Son, this is how we will be
recognizable at the end of time: those who resemble Christ so much as to look
like and radiate his very presence and Light will be the ones to go into the
Kingdom prepared: those who choose not to participate, won’t. It’s as simple as
that!
Are not our hearts burning
within us, when we read this reading today, and hear this homily: if so, and we
act on it: then we will have gotten the message: and we will be participating
fully in the JOY OF EASTER DAY!
This
is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!
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