Thursday, April 4, 2013

Wednesday of the Octave of Easter


            On many holidays it is traditional to give gifts to our loved ones.  Easter is no different as many of you received baskets of candy, Easter eggs and possibly presents.  The only reason we should do such acts of kindness is because of Jesus Christ.
            Today the crippled beggar was looking for a gift.  His only source of sustenance came from the alms people would give him as he begged outside the temple.  When Peter and John passed by, he would have expected a small gift of money, but he received a much greater gift.  Peter says: “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.”  The man walked.  Yet even greater than his physical health, this man was given the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ.
            In the Gospel, Jesus imparts a gift to Cleopas and his companion.  After journeying with them on the way to Emmaus, they sat down at table where Jesus, “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.”  Jesus did indeed vanish—physically.  Yet his presence remained under what looked like bread.  Jesus gave these disciples the gift of his Body and Blood and “they recognized him.”
            In this Easter Octave, we thank God once more for the greatest gift of them all: Jesus Christ, risen from the dead who feeds us with the Eucharist.  Allow this reality to inspire you to give this great gift to others.

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