IPOH: Listen to God through His Word so that we may open our eyes to recognize Jesus in our lives, Our Mother of Perpetual Help parish priest Fr Philip Lai, CSsR, said. In the Emmaus Walk (LK 24:13-35) the disciples of Jesus were so blinded by their confusion and sorrow over their Master’s death that they failed to recognize Jesus, even as he walked with them, Fr Lai said.

In his homily on Mothers’ Day, Fr Lai added: “Jesus listened to their story and allowed them to do so, as he knew it would help them bear their grief. He then invited them to look back on the past happenings, in the light of the Scriptures. “When doing so, they were able to understand the significance of what had happened to Jesus and this gave them hope for the future.

At each Mass we should remember what Jesus’ call is, that is to listen to His Word and open our eyes to recognize Him. “We often don’t see Jesus in our lives if we are caught up in our anxieties. But if we allow God in and look back on the past happenings, then it will give meaning to what is happening around us.

“When Jesus was crucified, the disciples only saw the tragic end to a life, and failed to understand Jesus’ teaching. “Jesus’ invitation to them was to look beyond his death and hence gave them meaning and spurred them to spread the Good News,” he said. After communion, Fr Lai invited all mothers to stand and said he a special prayer for mothers, before he blessed them.