As I look at these two readings, I think about “making a difference.” In the first reading, we have the story of the crippled man who asked Peter and John for alms. He didn’t expect much. What he anticipated was far different from what he received.
Peter and John said to him, “Look at us.” That was different. Usually, someone flipped him a coin while passing by, hardly giving him even a glance. At their words, he paid attention. He expected to receive something—maybe a little better than usual, something different. Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold.” How disappointing that must have been for him to hear. But Peter continued, “What I do have, I give you in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.” That must have puzzled the crippled man. What can you get from someone’s name? What he got made a big difference. Peter said, “Rise and walk.” Then Peter performed another unusual act, something this crippled man had probably rarely experienced in his life. Peter took him by the hand and raised him up. He who had been crippled stood up, walked around, and went into the Temple, jumping and praising God. All who remembered him as the cripple begging by the “Beautiful Gate” were amazed and astonished. They saw him differently. Peter and John made a difference in this man’s life.
We have the Gospel story of the road to Emmaus. Clopas and the one with him were walking away from what they thought was going to make a difference in the life of the Jewish nation. They couldn’t believe what had happened. They were very sad, disappointed, and heartbroken. All their hopes and dreams had been murdered on a cross. Someone came up and began to walk with them. It wasn’t their best moment to greet a stranger, but this person walked with them for the rest of the miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It probably would have taken around four hours. He interpreted all the Scripture prophecies referring to the Messiah. Still, they did not recognize with whom they were walking.
I believe Jesus walked with them because Mary, the wife of Clopas, stood under the cross with her sister, Mary the Mother of Jesus, John, and Mary Magdalene. The Gospel records that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. He probably appeared to his mother before Magdalene, but that is not recorded in Scripture. It would make sense that he would also appear to Mary, the wife of Clopas, who also stood beneath that ignominious gibbet with his mother.
Mary of Clopas’ last image of Jesus had been the bloody, dead body in the arms of his Mother. The One who walked with them didn’t appear anything like that. He was different. He gladdened and soothed their broken hearts. He made a difference. They urged him to stay and share their meager supper, for it had grown late. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. That made the difference. That opened their eyes; they recognized him.
We are “women making a difference.” What difference have we made in the lives of others, as Peter and John did by taking the crippled man by the hand and curing him? Or have we been recipients of Good News that burst open our hearts, as it did those walking to Emmaus? Do we recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread? Would we be willing to run all the way back to Jerusalem, seven miles in the dark, changed and renewed, to share our Good News because of our comprehension and joy?
What we do have is hope for the future. We don’t know what will come, what is on the other side of the bridge, but we can grow into whatever it is so we can continue “making a difference.” Our lives and what we do now will continue to make a difference into the future.
– Sister Elizabeth Slenker, OP
Sister Elizabeth is an artist who resides in St. Louis where she is also engaged in ministry with her two therapy dogs.