3rd Sunday of Easter (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

May 4, 2014

Liturgical readings

Acts 2:14, 22-33

Psalm 16

1 Peter 1:17-21

Luke 24:13-35

"Stay with us."

Two disciples of Jesus were making their way to Emmaus. They were in a state of discouragement, hoping that Jesus would set Israel free. Their hopes were dashed since Jesus died on a cross. It was in this state of being disheartened by that event when the Lord joined them on their way to Emmaus. However, they did not recognize that it was Jesus who joined them in their journey. Then Jesus spoke to them: quoting from Scriptures regarding the events at Calvary. He explained to them that all that had to happen so that the Messiah would enter into His glory. So the disciples exclaimed to Jesus, "Stay with us." Jesus went and stayed with them. As they arrived at their destination, they sat down for a meal, and then as the Lord broke the Bread, the two suddenly recognized Jesus. They recognized Him in the "breaking of the bread".

What was in the "breaking of the bread" that caused the two disciples to recognize Jesus? Fr. Cantalamessa (Papal preacher in the Vatican) gives one interpretation to this event in his book, "The Eucharist: Our Sanctification":

Jesus accomplished an action: he broke bread...This action had a sacrificial

meaning. In breaking bread, Jesus was "breaking" himself - in the sense of what

Isaiah the prophet says of God's servant, as being broken for our transgressions.

This breaking of Himself before God and his followers was an act of "obedience

onto death".

The apostles said to Jesus, "Stay with us". What they lacked in spirit, they found again in the presence of Jesus. This is sometimes true of every believer before coming to God's presence in the celebration of the Eucharist. Perhaps there are times in the journey of every baptized Christian that they experience fear and discouragement in doing what is according to God's will. But like the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, every soul can be reanimated by God's Word when he recognizes the Lord's presence in the Mass. This question for reflection can help: When the priest does the "breaking of the bread" in the Mass, how do we recognize Jesus? How does the Lord "stay with us" in the "breaking of the bread"?

Scripture quote:

"For you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption...you have shown me the paths of life" (Acts 2)