First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Reflection:
During the Easter season, the First Reading, which is typically taken from the Old Testament, comes from the Acts of the Apostles instead. Thus, we have the opportunity to hear about the early days of the Church, as faith in Christ spread after Jesus’ resurrection, especially through the preaching of the Apostles. In today’s reading, we hear Peter’s message to the crowds in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, a Jewish pilgrimage feast that brought Jews from all over to Jerusalem. Peter and the other Apostles had just received the Holy Spirit. This emboldened them, giving them confidence to share the message of Jesus publicly. As was common, Peter spoke on behalf of the others. We see here quite the transformation that had taken place in Peter in a matter of weeks. The Apostle who had denied Jesus three times at His trial and had hidden with the other Apostles out of fear, now confidently proclaimed Jesus crucified and risen from the dead to the skeptical crowd. This was the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through Peter, the Prince of the Apostles and our first Pope. Peter continued to proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus until that proclamation brought about his own martyrdom in the same way Jesus died—by crucifixion.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
Reflection:
In the Second Reading, we hear once again from the Apostle Peter, who tradition holds authored this epistle. Here he exhorts Christians to holy living. We are pilgrims on this earth, “sojourning” on our way to heaven. In this journey, we must live in humility, submitting ourselves to God and obeying His commandments. While God is gracious and merciful, He is also just. Peter explains that God “judges impartially according to each one’s works.” God calls us to a standard—one which we cannot live up to on our own—and there are consequences when we don’t live up to it (something Peter calls “futile conduct”). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man, died as “a spotless unblemished lamb” sacrificed for our sins, and rose from the dead so we can have forgiveness of our sins and the ability to live according to God’s standards. Therefore, we can put our “faith and hope” in God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:13-35
Reflection:
The story of the Road to Emmaus is rich with meaning. The two disciples who were heading home from Jerusalem on Easter Sunday seemed downtrodden and confused by the events that had taken place. One of their names is given, Cleopas, while the other’s name is not. Often, when there is an unnamed figure in Luke’s gospel, this is an invitation for the reader to put themself in the position of that character. Thus, we can envision ourselves as a disciple of Jesus walking along the Road to Emmaus, and ponder how we would have responded in that moment. Another tradition holds that the unnamed disciple is the wife of Cleopas, who is named elsewhere in the gospels as Mary, the wife of Clopas. She was one of three Marys at the foot of the cross (along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Apostle John). This makes sense because the two travelers appear to dwell in the same household when they arrive in Emmaus. If this is true, it makes this scene more profound when considering that at least one of these two disciples had been present at the crucifixion.
These two disciples had believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but the events of Jesus’ death left them thinking they had been mistaken. Even though they had heard eyewitness reports that the tomb was found empty, they apparently did not wait around Jerusalem to find out what had happened to Jesus’ body. Like the Apostle Thomas, in the scene of last Sunday’s gospel reading, they were reluctant to believe without seeing the Risen Lord himself (for they highlight that the tomb was found empty but “him they did not see”). Ironically, they were walking and talking with the risen Lord as they articulated this! At the statement “him they did not see,” Jesus interjected and began explaining the Scriptures to them, opening their eyes to understand why the recent events had taken place, but still not opening their eyes enough to recognize who He was. It was only after they arrived in Emmaus, they invited Jesus into their home, and Jesus “took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them” that they then recognized him. These same words were used at the Last Supper (along with at the Multiplication of the Loaves). This story, therefore, reveals that the risen Jesus would “stay with us” and be revealed to us going forward through the Eucharist, which had been instituted at the Last Supper. In fact, notice how this scene mirrors the Mass–first there is the Liturgy of the Word (Jesus explains the Scriptures to them) and then there is the Liturgy of the Eucharist (Jesus breaks bread).
Application:
- In the First Reading, the Apostle Peter was emboldened to preach the gospel once he received the Holy Spirit. As baptized Christians, we have the same Holy Spirit, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, dwelling within us. Have there been times in your life when you have felt emboldened to share about Jesus with others? When and how have you done so? In what ways could you better give witness to Jesus through your words and actions?
- For the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, their encounter with the risen Lord was transformative, for they “set out at once and returned to Jerusalem” and told others about meeting the risen Lord. Similarly, whenever we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist (and in other ways), He can transform our lives and send us on a new, better path. He calls us to then go and share about our encounters with Him to others. In fact, the word “Mass” comes from the same root as “mission,” which is used at the end of Mass when the priest or deacon says, “Go forth, the Mass is ended” (Ite, missa est in Latin). Therefore, every time we go to Mass we encounter the risen Lord in the Eucharist and then we’re sent out on mission to share Him with the world. During this time of not being able to attend Mass in-person nor receive the Eucharist due to COVID-19, prayerfully reflect on the Road to Emmaus passage and how that relates to the Mass with anticipation of the time when we will be able to gather together again and receive the risen Lord in the Eucharist.
