“The Risen Christ Meets Us Wherever We Are” by Colleen O’Sullivan

“The Risen Christ Meets Us Wherever We Are” by Colleen O’Sullivan

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.  When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.  But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”  He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.  Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you:  in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”  (Acts 3:2-6)

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.  (Luke 24:13-16) 

Piety

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.  (Psalm 105:1-2)

Study

It may as well have been Saturday all over again for the two disciples heading away from Jerusalem to their village, Emmaus.  Holy Saturday always has a disconcerting feeling of emptiness to it, which these companions were still carrying with them as they put one foot in front of the other.  They were so disappointed and disillusioned. 

For a fleeting moment earlier that morning their hearts had been filled with joy at their women friends’ report that Jesus was alive.  But when they rushed to the tomb, they found only burial cloths, not their friend and teacher.  Disconsolate, they decided to leave the city and return home.  Sharing their feelings with one another along the way, they were suddenly joined by a stranger.  This fellow traveler asked what they had been discussing and they told him.  The stranger called them foolish and went back over the Scriptures from Moses forward, showing them that the Christ had always been destined to suffer.  Still, the two disciples had no clue to this wayfarer’s identity.  It was only later that day in the breaking of bread at their evening meal that they recognized the Risen Lord! 

Jesus comes to us wherever we are.  Jesus rushed after them when he realized they had turned their backs on Jerusalem out of despair.  Jesus completely turned their lives around by pursuing them in their hour of doubt.  And Jesus often does this for us as well.  He doesn’t wait for us to come in search of him.  He meets us right in the midst of our troubles.

The same thing happens in today’s first reading.  Peter and John encounter the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate.  This disabled man has no expectation that this day will be different from any other.  All he hopes for is alms sufficient for the day’s needs, and that’s what he asks for when Peter and John stumble upon him.  He has no idea that he’s about to meet the power of the Risen Christ until Peter tells him he has no money and commands him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus the Nazorean.   And that’s exactly what takes place; the man gets up and, for the first time in years, is able to walk around!   He wasn’t seeking Jesus, but Jesus, through Peter and John, found him and healed him!

Action

Our Scripture readings today are taken from real life.  Sometimes we’re like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, scurrying away from the very place the Risen Jesus is to be found.  When have you run away from disappointment, discouragement or despair?  Take time in prayer today to share whatever it was that sent you fleeing.

Often our ideas about where we might encounter the Risen Christ are somewhat limited.  Who would have expected to meet him at the same Temple gate where every day previous to this had yielded nothing but the same old, same old, maybe because that’s all you asked for?   Share your deepest desires with the Risen Christ in prayer today.