HOMILY FOR EASTER WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023: OCTAVE OF EASTER
Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9; Luke 24:13-35
My Morning Minute With Jesus
“The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”
Despite being sheepishly blinded by challenges and crisis, the Lord remains inserted in our world. He journeys alongside, even though we often ignore his presence or do not recognize him. Christ accompanies his church through the challenges of time, teaching, renewing and strengthening her through every Eucharistic encounter. There, his actual presence transforms us through communion and recognition. The Holy Eucharist has been an important part of Christian witness since the Early Church. There we encounter Christ and come into communion with him so he lives in us. Jesus’ appearance to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus and their restoration/realization are set in a Eucharistic context, made up of Word and Bread. First, he explained the scriptures to them (Liturgy of the Word), and then, he turned the table on them at dinner, where the guest became the host, with them recognizing him at the Breaking of the Bread (Liturgy of the Eucharist). All accomplished, Jesus left their physical sight; but remains physically present at every Eucharist, to be ingested by us, so he would live in us. He left their sight to remain within them spiritually. They, in turn, became his physical presence on earth. That presence is power and providence for life’s journeys and battles. That power, at work in Peter and John, healed the crippled man the first reading. There is power in the Name of Jesus. He taught us to ask whatever we need in his Name and it will be given unto us. That Name, on our lips, must be uttered in reverence and faith; never vainly. The Eucharist is where that Name becomes one with us on our bended knees.
Risen Lord, live is us; endow us for the mission you have given us. Amen.
+Anthony Ovayero Ewherido