Acts 3:1-10 / Lk 24:13-35
It might sound strange to hear this, but in order to recognize the Risen Christ, our eyes must be opened by Him.
It's just like what we heard in the gospel, that the eyes of the two disciples were opened at the breaking of bread and they recognized Jesus.
Even from the other gospel accounts, the Risen Christ was not immediately recognized.
To Mary Magdalene, He was a gardener. To the disciples in the upper room, He was a ghost. To the disciples at the lake of Galilee, He was a stranger on the shore. To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, He was a lonely traveller.
But after their eyes were opened, the disciples saw every situation and every experience as a "risen" situation. In other words, every situation and experience was filled with the presence of the Risen Lord.
In the 1st reading, Peter and John saw that the crippled man needed more than just financial assistance. In fact they may have none to give him.
But out of the mouth of Peter came these precious words - I have neither silver or gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!
We have come and gathered at the altar of the Lord to hear His Word and to have our eyes opened again at the breaking of bread.
May our hearts burn with God's love and may we see the presence of the Risen Christ in every person, experience and situation.
And in the name of Jesus Christ our Risen Lord, let us walk on in faith and bring His love to others.