Wednesday April 3, 2024

“When we give up on Jesus and quit too soon, Jesus does not give up on us.”

Good News Reflection for:

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
April 3, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Jesus Christ: May I find in the Eucharist Your love’s victory over sin and may my trust in Your victory be my strength before the injustices of this world. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Acts 3:1-10
Ps 105:1-4, 6-9
Luke 24:13-35
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040324.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-3-2024

Don’t give up on God’s plan

The journey on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel reading today, was a trip made too soon. The two men who were heading to Emmaus had been disciples of Jesus. They had followed him around, probably for quite awhile, to learn from him. Nevertheless, they still lacked understanding. Like Thomas, they couldn’t believe that Jesus had really been resurrected from the dead.

There’s a big difference, though, between Thomas and these two. Thomas stayed in Jerusalem to wait for proof that Jesus was alive; these two left town. They gave up on Jesus a little too soon.

How often do we quit when things don’t seem to be working right, when all seems hopeless, or when a good plan turns into disaster? There’s an old cliche that claims, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” I think we should change that to: “It only seems dark, but the dawn has already begun!” The Son has already started to shine — but our eyes can’t see his light yet.

When we feel like quitting — especially when that feeling is at its strongest — this is precisely when the resurrection light of Christ is about to make a difference! We are blind to what’s just around the corner. One or two steps more, just a little farther, and we walk into the victory that Jesus has been preparing for us.

Gratefully, when we give up on Jesus and quit too soon, Jesus does not give up on us. Remember that he went after the two who were heading to Emmaus. He went to them! And he does the same for us today.

First, Jesus gave them a new understanding of scripture, and at first, they did not recognize him consciously (in their heads), but their hearts definitely did. Their heads caught up with their hearts at the end of the journey when Jesus gave them a eucharistic sharing of the bread.

The Masses we celebrate today are a similar journey of rediscovering and recognizing Jesus. First, we have the Liturgy of the Word. To get value from the scriptures as they are read at Mass, we must listen with our hearts.

Then we move into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. When the presiding priest consecrates the bread and wine, it is actually Jesus who is doing it. Christ who dwells within him is doing for us what he did for those two disciples at Emmaus.

Next, we recognize that Jesus has come to us in the body and blood of the Eucharist. Instead of trusting what our eyes or our taste buds tell us, we embrace what faith tells us.

This is the same Jesus who has already arranged a victory for us in our trials.

Finally, we leave church like the two disciples in Emmaus. They set out at once and returned to Jerusalem to tell others what Jesus had done for them. They became evangelizers. They did not keep the news to themselves; they shared it so that others could benefit. Helping others discover Jesus is the ultimate victory.

To help you reflect further on this, go to “The Thirst of the Soul” @ https://wordbytes.org/faith-booster-minis/the-thirst-of-the-soul/.

© 2024 by Terry A. Modica

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