Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

Homily for Wednesday of Easter Week

Today’s readings give us a beautiful picture of what happens when Christ meets us in our need and walks with us in our confusion.

In Acts, Peter and John encounter a man who has been unable to walk his entire life. He asks for money, but Peter gives him something far greater: “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” What the man receives is not what he expected—but it is exactly what he needed. And his response is pure joy: walking, jumping, praising God.

Psalm 105 invites us to remember moments like this—moments when God has acted with power and mercy. “Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.” The psalm reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not an idea; it’s a history. It’s a pattern. God keeps showing up.

Then we come to the Gospel: the road to Emmaus. Two disciples walk away from Jerusalem, weighed down by disappointment. They had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel, and now they can’t make sense of what has happened. Jesus walks with them, even though they don’t recognize Him. He listens. He teaches. He breaks bread. And suddenly their eyes are opened.

What ties these readings together is this:

Christ meets us exactly where we are—whether we are stuck, confused, disappointed, or simply asking for the wrong things—and He gives us what we truly need.

The lame man wanted coins; he received healing. The disciples wanted answers; they received the living Christ. We often want quick fixes, clarity, or control. Christ offers something deeper: His presence, His Word, His Eucharist, His peace.

So the invitation today is simple: Where is Christ walking with you right now, even if you haven’t recognized Him yet?  And what might He be offering you that is far greater than what you’ve been asking for?

May our hearts, like those disciples on the road, burn within us as He speaks. And may our eyes be opened to see Him in the breaking of the bread.