Consider the Word, April 20, 2023

Consider the Word, April 20, 2023
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for April 23

• Acts 2:14a, 36-41
• Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17
• 1 Peter 1:17-23
• Luke 24:13-35

 
Collect:

O God, 

your Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread. 

Open the eyes of our faith, 

that we may see him in his redeeming work, 

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

 
Reflection Question

1. Although we often think of sin as wrong deeds and actions, a much fuller understanding is that sin is a sense of alienation from our true selves. What then is repentance and how does it help?

 
The Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over 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 these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

 
Reflection Question

1. How can it happen that “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”? And how may we avoid the same fate?
2. Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives the bread to them, the same sequence of actions we recall from his final meal: reflect on the significance of the Holy Eucharist today?

 
Closing Prayer:

Elusive God,

companion on the way,

you walk behind, beside, beyond;

you catch us unawares.

Break through the disillusionment and despair

clouding our vision,

that, with wide-eyed wonder,

we may find our way and journey on

as messengers of your good news. Amen.