3rd Sunday of Easter

St. Luke’s story about the two disciples and their trip to Emmaus is like a finely cut gem.  There are many facets to the story and each facet reflects a different image of the Resurrected Christ present among us.   The risen Christ is with us always and everywhere, even when we are running away or isolated in our houses.  He is with us on our important, life changing journeys and our everyday activities. We may not recognize him, but he is there.  The risen Christ reaches out to us through scripture as St Pope John Paul II reminded us, "it is Christ himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read.”  The resurrected Christ is present when we gather together as a congregation to worship (even when we worship together electronically) because we are the Body of Christ.   And most significantly, the risen Christ is present in the Eucharist both through the priest in the act of consecration and in the bread and wine.  We believe that the consecrated host really becomes the Body of Christ and the blessed wine really becomes the Blood of Christ.  The risen Christ is very real and present here with us today. 

The question I put to you today is what do you do with this precious gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ present to us in so many ways?    Do you forget about him when Mass in over? Is he relegated to a small corner of your life?  Does he disappear when you interact with your family or people you work with? When Cleopas and his colleague finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread, they “set out at once,” walking the seven miles back to Jerusalem to share their good news with the apostles and other disciples.  During these times of social distancing and for many people isolation, how do we share the Good News?  You can reach out to people you know are isolated by calling them, emailing them or sending them a note to let them know you are thinking about them.  When you get frustrated with your spouse, children or even your neighbors, you can be patient, loving and kind.  You can take time out to read and reflect on scripture.  And you can pray. 

In today’s second reading from 1 Peter 1: 17 – 21, St Peter tell us, “Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed … with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,

so that your faith and hope are in God.” 

God our Father,
our road in life is often tiresome
for it is the road of pilgrims.
Give us Jesus your Son
as our companion who journeys with us
and who warms our hearts with love and joy.
Let him keep breaking for us
the bread of himself that gives us courage.
Open our eyes to recognize him
in our downhearted and suffering brothers and sisters,
that they may see in us
something of our faith that our Lord is risen
and that he lives for ever and ever.

Amen