Burning Hearts
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 24: 13-35- 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. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Were not our hearts burning within us…?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
What we see in the encounter of the travelers with Jesus on the road to Emmaus is something very familiar. We have heard some of the phrases used in this story before, such as, “He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” Indeed, the whole structure of the story is very familiar. It actually parallels the structure of the Mass: first there is the proclamation of the Scriptures, and then there is the breaking of the Bread. These two parts of the Mass are called the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
It is very important to notice that after His Resurrection, Jesus doesn’t choose to show himself to massive crowds or to appear at the center of the Temple. Instead, even while still bodily present on earth, even before His Ascension into heaven, Jesus chooses to make Himself known in the Mass. And this is still where we can find Him today. If we want to meet the Risen Christ, who can set our hearts on fire like he did for those travelers long ago, then we need to be at Mass. Consider in prayer: How often do we go to Mass? How attentive are we to the readings? How respectful are we in our actions? How much do we long to see Christ?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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