SEPTEMBER 25 SAN CLEOFA. Life and prayer to be recited today

Disciple of Jesus - sec. THE

Cleofa, or Cleofe, or Alfeo (these names are the transcription of the Hebrew name Halphai), husband of Maria di Cleofa and perhaps brother of San Giuseppe, was father of Giacomo the Minor, Giuseppe and Simone. He was among the first disciples to see the Lord again after the resurrection, as St. Luke tells us. Cleophas and one of his co-disciples were on the road to Emmaus and Jesus approached them explaining the scriptures to them. They recognized him only when, sitting at the table with him, Jesus took some bread, blessed it and broke it. There is no other reliable information about him. According to tradition Cleopa was killed in Emmaus by the hands of the Jews, in the house of compatriots who detested him because he was preaching the Resurrection of Christ.

PRAYER

O God, our Father, who in Your Son Jesus wanted to make yourself a companion of the disciples on the road to Emmaus to dissolve their doubts and uncertainties and reveal Your presence in the broken bread, open our eyes because we know how to see Your presence, illuminate the our mind because we are able to understand Your Word and light the fire of Your Spirit in our hearts because we find the courage to become joyful witnesses of the Risen One, Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen".