In the Gospel on the Third Sunday of Easter, we journey on the road to Emmaus with two of Jesus disciples.  They are sad and despondent, when they encounter a stranger on the road.  This stranger is the Risen Lord, but the disciples do not recognise Him.  The stranger breaks open the word of God and teaches them how to read scripture, especially the written word that references His life, death and resurrection.  Jesus eventually reveals himself in the breaking of the bread and the disciples are jubilant and return to Jerusalem.

Creating a Sacred Space in your home can help focus on the sense of the sacred

Read the Gospel carefully. 

Read it slowly and then read it twice more.

Gospel – Luke 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place.  Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are!  How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.  As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.  With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”  So, they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Reflection

The first day of the week for Christians is Sunday.  Sunday is the day God our Father, our creator rested.  Sunday is the day our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  This is the day that the Christian community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist together.  In the Gospel today two of Jesus disciples are on the road walking away from Jerusalem, they are fearful, sad and in disbelief of the events from the last few days.  The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.  It seems all their hope is gone.  They meet Jesus on the road, but they do not recognise him.

Why do you think the disciples did not recognise the Lord?

When Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were reflecting on all that had happened to Jesus over the past few days.  The disciples for some reason did not recognise Jesus.  As the disciples continued on their journey, Jesus accompanied them.  He accompanied them in their grief, sadness and hopelessness.

Can you think of a time when you were sad, lonely and feeling hopeless?  Who brought you comfort?

As the disciples and Jesus walked along the road to Emmaus, Jesus unpacked the scriptures for them.  He explained to the disciple how He, the Christ had to fulfil scripture.  Jesus had to suffer to enter into glory.  As Jesus spoke the disciple’s hearts began to burn and they invited this stranger to join them for supper.

It was during supper when Jesus, took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to the disciples that they recognised Jesus.

The disciples were changed by their encounter with the Risen Lord.  Instead of running away from Jerusalem, they turned and went back and shared the good news, that Jesus is Alive!

This Gospel reflects many elements of our mass.  We have the scripture; we have the teaching or homily and we have the Eucharist.

In these challenging times, when the Christian community cannot gather in the chapel or receive the sacraments.  We need to encounter the Risen Lord in other ways.  Jesus is always present to us in His Word, so let us learn to pray with the word of God.  Jesus said, “For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.” (Matt 18:20) Jesus is clearly present in His people.  In spite of the social distancing restrictions, let us gather the members of our family who share our homes and pray together.  If you are alone at home or cocooning social media has become a powerful tool in connection to other people.  Arrange a WhatsApp group chat or prayer group.  Let’s get creative!!  Then when all the restrictions are lifted, we can gather once again and really understand the resurrection and our celebration of the Eucharist will be heartfelt and real.

Activity

In order that we may deepen our faith and encounter the Risen Lord. 

Reflect on next week’s Gospel (The 4th Sunday of Easter).  Spend twenty minutes to half an hour daily to reflect and pray the Gospel reading which is John 10: 1-10 the Good Shepherd.

The Mysteries of Light (usually prayed on a Thursday)

Start by praying the Apostles Creed:

I believe in God,

the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Our Father …….

Hail Mary X 3

Glory be to the Father …….

1st        The Baptism of our Lord in the river Jordan (Matt 3: 13-17)

2nd        The miracle at the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1-12)

3rd        The proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven ((Mk 1:15)

4th        The transfiguration (Luke 9:28-35)

5th        The institution of the Eucharist. (Mark 14:22-25)

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

Let us Pray

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen