Third Sunday of Easter
Intro: As we gather to listen to the Scriptures and break bread together, we hear how two dispirited disciples on the road to Emmaus recognised Jesus in the very same action. As we break bread together today, we pray that we too may recognise that the same Jesus is present with us.
Readings: In the Acts of the Apostles, after the feast of Pentecost, Peter speaks with courage about the risen Christ Who has conquered death, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
In his first Letter, Peter reveals the purpose of Christ's death to the Christians of Asia Minor - to free them from their sinful ways of life, and give them a new faith and hope in God.
Acts 2: 14, 22-33;
1 Peter 1: 17-21;
Luke 24: 13-35;
There are two thoughts which should sink into our minds about today's Gospel: firstly, the loving kindness of Jesus to those two disciples who had lost faith in Him because of His apparent failure to triumph over His enemies on Good Friday. Like the good shepherd He is, He brought them back to the fold.
But God had not failed ... Christ had not failed ... Christianity has not failed, nor ever will, even though there will always be weaklings who will fall by the wayside and
try to get others to join them to boost their sagging morale.
The second thought is: it's a divine remedy for those who feel their faith is weakening. Because we still have the risen Christ present every time we join in the celebration of our Eucharist. He is not only at the table, the altar, with us; but in the bread He breaks for us through the ministry of His priests, He continues to give us spiritual nourishment in the Bread of Life.
The loss of anyone important to us is always painful. So many different feelings are involved - sadness, anger, despair, shock, numbness; it's difficult to see straight or think clearly. The two travellers couldn't believe in Jesus' resurrection. They had been His followers, and that made it worse. They had invested their emotional capital in Him, and now they felt totally let down, dejected, almost like sheep without a shepherd! But as soon as they recognised their risen Lord, we're told "they set out that instant" - even in the pitch darkness of the night - and returned to Jerusalem, running back the seven miles they had just covered.
The journey to Emmaus can symbolise our own journey of faith. Sometimes we'll experience darkness, the feeling that God isn't there, or has abandoned us, especially in our present troubled times. What the two disciples were looking for, they didn't really need to travel to find: what they needed was love, the same love which we have the privilege of receiving from others and in the Eucharist which, hopefully, we'll celebrate once more in our community.
Christ has called us to be His followers and disciples. He has called us, not because He needs us, but because we need Him. If we use the Mass, the reception of the Eucharist frequently and fervently, like those two disciples, we'll recognise Him as our loving, risen Saviour and be filled with new faith and confidence to walk with Him on our sometimes stumbling journey of faith.
Intercessions
As we journey on our own road of faith, let's focus for a moment on those occasions when our own faith failed to burn brightly for us. Through our prayers, like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we ask for understanding, enlightenment and help:-
1. For all those who lead and guide the Church. Give them the courage and strength to fulfil that task with integrity - Lord, hear us.
2. For peace and justice among the different nations of our one world, especially in the lands where Your Son once walked - Lord, hear us.
3. For those struggling in their belief, and for those who have lost faith in Christ, His church or mankind. Grant them peace of mind - Lord, hear us.
4. For our young people who are still searching for their identity and the true meaning of life. May today's Gospel message inspire them to witness to their faith by word and action - Lord, hear us.
5. May Dominic Cleary, Brian Byme, May Cameron and Margaret Ionta who have died recently, together with Tom Jackson, Maurice Jackson, Mary McGeeney, Nancy Johnston, Jean Murphy, Catherine and William Walton, now take their place with Mary and all the saints in the heavenly Kingdom - Lord, hear us.
Loving Father, the words of the psalm tell us that You will show us the path to life. May the fire of Your love live in our hearts, and energise our journey of faith. Help each of us to find our true vocation in life, and have the courage and faith to follow the path in which You lead us.