Hearts on Fire
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Second Reading: 1 Pt 1:17-21
Gospel: Lk 24:13-35
Theme: Walking, Recognizing, Staying
Today is the Third Sunday of Easter, and the gospel this day leads us to the journey of the two disciples to Emmaus. It’s based on one of the most famous dialogues he has in Sacred Scripture, with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus on the night he rose from the dead. Let us learn from their experiences as Jesus journeys with them on their way.
The first is walking toughly. We heard from the beginning that the disciples were walking to a village seven miles from Jerusalem. It is a historical fact that they were heading away from the faith that Jerusalem symbolizes. Their experiences had been difficult, as they had just experienced the loss of their Lord. Earlier that day, women had said that his tomb was empty and that they had seen a vision of angels saying he had arisen, but they were obviously reluctant to believe again and have their hopes crushed anew. Meanwhile, Jesus, who has not yet been recognized, joins their company as they walk along the way. He met them where they were, with all their questions and doubts, but their sadness and likely some undescribed changes in Jesus’ resurrected body prevented them from recognizing him. As they walked along, Jesus asked them what they were talking about, and they answered that they were talking about what had happened to Jesus the Nazarene, and yet they were hoping "that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place." We learn from this scene that Jesus wants to be invited into our own problems, doubts, and questions in life. Jesus never wants to force himself on us. He wants to be invited.
The second is recognizing personally. At first, when Jesus joined them as they walked, the disciples' eyes were prevented from recognizing him. As they talk more about Jesus the Nazarene, Jesus reprimands them for not believing the first witnesses of his resurrection, saying, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And then He opened and interpreted to them what was referred to him in all the Scriptures. At this moment, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. As he was talking, the light of truth began to penetrate the great darkness of their sadness. Their hearts began to burn as he spoke to them along the way, even though they still didn’t recognize who he was. They didn’t want this to end. Hence they invited this Wayfarer into their home: "Stay with us!" (Fr. Landry) said. This scene in the gospel reminds us of the initiative and personal encounter of Jesus with us. We can personally recognize Him in our here-and-now moments of our lives, for He is willing to give us the truth and will allow us to live a life to the fullest.
The third is staying inwardly. As Jesus stayed in their home, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them—this is what we are celebrating now—the Eucharist. They could no longer see Jesus with their eyes, but Jesus remained with them under the appearance of the Eucharist. The Lord did not want merely to stay with them but to stay in them. Thus, every Mass is an experience of Emmaus. We can also see some elements of this gospel: the elements of the Mass; there is the word of God being exposed to us in the Liturgy of the Word; and there is the Eucharist, which we will receive during communion. When Jesus stayed with us and we experienced the person of Jesus in our lives, like the two disciples, they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem, where they proclaimed their experiences with the Risen Lord.
Thus, walking toughly, recognizing personally, and staying inwardly are experiences of Jesus in our lives, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. May our experience of Jesus in the Holy Mass set our hearts on fire through His Word and His Body in the Eucharist so that we may become an instrument to set the world ablaze.
