Acts 2

On Pentecost Day St Peter announces the good news. Even though Jesus had been killed on Good Friday, God raised him to life at Easter.

Psalm 15(16)

The psalm is quoted by St Peter as pointing to Christ’s resurrection: “You will not leave my soul among the dead.”

1 Peter 1

St Peter reminds us that Christ paid the ransom to redeem us, not in silver or gold, but in his own precious blood.

Luke 24

The account of the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most beautiful stories in the whole of Scripture. We can identify with the feelings of the two disciples heading out from Jerusalem after the tragic Passover—grief at the death of their Master, disappointment that their messianic hopes had been shattered, guilt that so many disciples had failed to stand by Jesus in his suffering, confusion over what would happen next, and emptiness now that their high expectations had come to nothing. So they share their feelings with the unknown stranger who walks with them.

           As he listened, he mentioned some scriptural passages to give them ways to understand the situation. Perhaps he remarked that the Passover lamb had to be slaughtered before the Israelites could escape from Egypt, and the rock had to be struck by Moses before the water could flow out to quench the thirst of the journeying people in the desert. Or perhaps he spoke of Isaiah’s figure of the Suffering Servant, who was led like a lamb to the slaughter but was ultimately vindicated. Or perhaps he referred to the prophet Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the big fish before being regurgitated onto land again. As the disciples listened, their hearts began to feel warm again and their hopes were rekindled.

           When they reached their planned destination, the two disciples wished to thank their helpful companion by offering him a meal. On arrival, when he sat down as their guest, he took the role of the host. He broke bread for them, just as previously he had broken bread to feed the crowd of five thousand hungry people. Just at that moment they recognised him, but he had vanished from their sight.

           What about us? - Like those early disciples, we can feel grief in times of loss, disappointment when our hopes do not work out, guilt that we have not always stayed close to our Lord, confusion over what can happen in our lives, and emptiness when our expectations are not fulfilled. But all the while, the Lord is walking with us on our journey of life, even if often we do not notice him. Let us ask him to open our eyes that we may see him, not only in the Scriptures and the Breaking of Bread, but also in the events of our daily lives.

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Eastertide is a period of Mystagogy for those baptized at Easter. Today’s Gospel, the Journey to Emmaus, provides a prime opportunity for introducing neophytes to the fundamental liturgical shape of the celebration of Mass: Liturgy of the Word (Jesus explains the Scriptures) followed by Liturgy of the Eucharist (they recline at table, Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives the bread). In every Mass we gather at the altar, take bread (and wine)(Presentation of the Gifts), ask God to bless it (Eucharistic Prayer), break it (Fraction), and give it (Holy Communion).

“When the Sacred Scriptures are read in Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, the readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of greatest importance in the Liturgy.” (GIRM, para 29)- habitual late-comers take note!

”At the Last Supper……… Christ took the bread and the chalice, gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples. ……….. Hence, the Church has arranged the entire celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in parts corresponding to precisely these words and actions.” (GIRM, para. 72)

Question: how much do we need to de-clutter our celebration of Mass to bring out its essential shape?

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The following hymns for the Third Sunday of Easter (A) are suggested in the Laudate hymnbook:

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268 Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord

288 On the journey to Emmaus

624 In the breaking of bread

634 Christ our peace