Thrid Sunday of Easter
23rd April 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord Or: Alleluia.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Gospel : Luke 24:13-35
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Experience leads to witness; Personal Vision leads to mission!
Indicative: Our life of faith is like a journey. There will be times when things look dark and without hope. But for sure the risen Lord will accompany us, enlighten us and stabilize us in our faith so that we can become witnesses{alertSuccess}
1. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus symbolise most of us. The same features and factors are found in us: “looking downcast”, “prevented from recognising the Lord”, “foolish”, and “slow to heart to believe”.
2. They did not have the patience to wait for the Lord in Jerusalem. They could have remembered and believed in what the Lord foretold about his rising, what some women and some others attested about his rising, and they would have spent their time in faith, hope, prayer, patience and eager expectation
3. Instead, they go away from Jerusalem. It is symbolic of their moving away from the centre of their life. They lose their focus. They allow themselves to fall back and deviate from the main track and rhythm of life.
4. Similar is our journey of faith many times. Many times we subject ourselves to situations of dissipation, dull and shallow faith, failure to see and accept others’ genuine experience and testimony, foolishness, lack of hope, moving away from the centre, loss of focus, and relapse into old ways and deviations. Consequently, we fail to recognise the Lord and continue hard of hearts and incredulous.
5. How to remedy this? Realise deeply the precious gift of our faith. This implies, realise the immense value of God’s love and sacrifice; the incomparable and imperishable treasure of salvation wrought by the precious blood of Christ who offered himself as the spotless unblemished lamb.
6. So be ceaselessly aware that we are ransomed, liberated and transitioned from false conduct of sin. Realise the Lord is constantly walking with us. Be open and docile and listen to his teaching and instruction. Stay with him. Experience the intimacy of a relationship with him. Share the table with him.
7. Then there will be tremendous effects of the risen Lord. Our hearts will start burning. We will realise his presence. We will once again return to the centre from our diversions and deviations. And we will share the same encounter and experience of Jesus with others.
Imperative: We are called to manifest truly the Lord’s resurrection in our life. This is done only through becoming authentic, bold and passionate witnesses before others, and conducting ourselves with reverence during the time of our sojourning{alertSuccess}