Opening the Word is a series of prompts from The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies to help focus our minds and hearts on the Sunday Mass Readings. After Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). Our Lord desires to enflame our hearts also by revealing Himself to us in His Word. Take this opportunity to pause, and allow the Lord to make Himself known to you through the opening of the Scriptures which will ready your eyes to see Him in the breaking of the bread.
First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Second Reading: James 2:14-18
Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
Step 1: Begin in prayer, asking the Lord to open your heart to receive how He wants to make Himself known to you. Then, attentively read the Scriptures.
Step 2: Consider these meditation prompts that follow from the readings:
- Meditate on the first reading in parallel with Christ’s Passion. Reflect on how it speaks of Jesus.
- How has Jesus revealed His care for you through the work(s) of others? How might Jesus be asking you to be His vessel to someone else today through your faith and works?
- Consider why Jesus tells Peter and the others to “not tell anyone about him” even though Peter just correctly proclaimed him to be the Christ. What did Peter do just after this proclamation? Was he ready to share his understanding of who Jesus with others?
Step 3: Conclude with a prayer of gratitude and ask the Lord to keep these Words in your heart.
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