Sunday, April 14, 2002
3rd Sunday of Easter
1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
On Pentecost Day, Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice,
addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem,
listen to what I have to say.
Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus
of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and
wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to
sinners to be crucified and killed, and in this way the purpose of God
from all times was fulfilled.
But God raised him to life and released him from the pain of death, because
it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death. David spoke
of him when he said: I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is by my
side, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue
rejoiced; my body too will live in hope. Because you will not forsake
me in the abode of the dead, nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life, and your presence will fill
me with joy.
Friends, I don't need to prove that the patriarch David died and was
buried; his tomb is with us to this day. But he knew that God had sworn
to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne and, as he
was a prophet, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah.
So he said that he would not be left in the region of the dead, nor would
his body experience corruption.
This Messiah is Jesus and we are all witnesses that God raised him to
life. He has been exalted at God's right side and the Father has entrusted
the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit he has just poured upon us as you
now see and hear."
2nd Reading: 1 P 1:17-21
Dear brothers and sisters, you call upon a Father who makes no distinction
between persons but judges according to each one's deeds; take seriously,
then, these years which you spend in a strange land. Remember that you
were freed from the useless way of life of your ancestors, not with gold
and silver but with the precious blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish.
God, who has known Christ before the world began, revealed him to you
in the last days. Through him, you have faith in God who raised him from
the dead and glorified him in order that you might put all your faith
and hope in God.
Gospel: Lk 24:13-35
Two
of the disciples were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem,
and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and wondering,
Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were held and they
did not recognize him.
He asked, "What is this you are talking about?" The two stood
still, looking sad. Then one named Cleophas answered, "Why, it seems
you are the only traveller in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened
there these past few days." And he asked, "What is it?"
They replied, "It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet,
you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief
priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to
be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.
It is now the third day since all this took place. It is true that some
women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn,
they did not find his body; they came to tell us that they had seen a
vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Some friends of our
group went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said,
but they did not see him."
He said to them, "How dull you are, how slow of understanding! You
fail to believe the message of the prophets. Is it not written that the
Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?" Then starting
with Moses and going through the prophets, he explained to them everything
in the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if
to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, "Stay with us, for night
comes quickly. The day is now almost over." So he went in to stay
with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing,
broke it and gave each a piece.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished
out of their sight. And they said to each other, "Were not our hearts
filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and
explaining the Scriptures?"
They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found
the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by
these words: "Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared
to Simon!" Then the two told what had happened on the road and how
Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.
Commentary
Is the pattern becoming familiar? As we walk our journey of life, the Risen Christ approaches, without being invited, and walks beside us. We do not recognize him at first. He is too ordinary. Enlightenment is realizing that nothing is more amazing than the ordinary. We discuss about him, we search for him when he is right beside us in the market, the office or the bus queue. Perhaps you know someone who is ill, survived a heart attack, fearful in the face of death, and struggling to sustain faith and hope. Can you bring them the Eucharist? At such times, familiar things are comforting: food, friends, prayers known since childhood. The simple, humble presence of Jesus in the familiar sign of bread, Jesus who has been walking beside us unrecognized, awaiting the moment for our eyes to be opened.