Moments of Mercy: Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord

Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord   When we welcome others, we welcome the risen Christ.

Scripture “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” Luke 24:27   Reflection We can imagine the inner turmoil of the two disciples who were travelling to Emmaus that morning. A week earlier, they had witnessed the songs of praise for Jesus on Palm Sunday; they had seen Jesus debating with the religious authorities during the week. Along with the Apostles, they must have hoped that Jesus would finally reveal himself to all as the expected Messiah. But by the end of the week, this hope was displaced by despair as they witnessed the final indignity of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death. The disciples must have been emotionally exhausted. They probably felt sorry for themselves, believing that they had been drawn in by Jesus and, in a way, betrayed by him for not fulfilling their ambitions. Then they met a traveler on the road and were surprised that he did not know the news out of Jerusalem, how they had placed all their hopes in Jesus only to have them broken when the authorities arrested Jesus, tortured him, and crucified him. Finally, the disciples shared their bewilderment over the stories they heard from some of the women who told them Jesus’ tomb was empty. The stranger then instructed them about what they did not understand. He reviewed with them the teachings from the Scriptures. He reminded them of what Moses and all the prophets had taught about the Messiah: how he should suffer and then enter into his glory. They came near a village and stopped for an evening meal. The stranger began to move on until the two disciples invited him to share their meal with them. The stranger stayed with them, and when he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, the disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus as the risen Lord. At that moment, Jesus disappeared and in amazement the disciples returned to Jerusalem to share their story. Think of the dynamic of this story. After a time of initial conversion and hope, the disciples were disillusioned by what they thought was a failure on the part of Jesus. Then they met the unrecognized Jesus on the road who took them more deeply into the Scriptures to teach them that their initial hopes were misdirected. This exploration of the Scriptures also happens during the Easter Vigil. The celebration is enriched with the readings from the Old Testament. Knowing and understanding the Old Testament is an essential foundation for knowing and understanding Jesus. By exploring the Scriptures with the disciples, Jesus was preparing their hearts for what followed. When the disciples were ready to stop for an evening meal, they invited Jesus to dine with them. This reflects Luke’s central theme of hospitality: in welcoming others, we welcome Jesus. When we break bread and share with others, especially the poor, we are breaking bread with Jesus. The disciples would not have discovered Jesus’ true identity if they had not welcomed him to share a meal. So this sets Jesus’ agenda for us. In reading and contemplating the Scriptures—both the Old and New Testaments—we learn the essential story of Salvation for all. In welcoming one another, especially those most in need, we welcome the risen Jesus Christ in our midst.   Rejoice in the Resurrection Just like stained glass, our lives can only yield their true meaning if seen by God’s divine light. This Easter, we celebrate anew the divine light of the Risen Christ emerging triumphant from the tomb. Let us rejoice in Christ’s triumph! Please enjoy this reflection on Canterbury Cathedral’s stained-glass depiction of the Resurrection.

Pope Francis “Read a passage of the Gospel every day. Remember it well: read a passage from the Gospel every day, and on Sundays go to Communion, to receive Jesus. This is what happened to the disciples of Emmaus: they received the Word; they shared the breaking of bread and from feeling sad and defeated they became joyful.” Regina Caeli, 4 May 2014   Mercy in Action ► Reflect on the Gospel for Easter Sunday Mass with the Sunday Connection. ► Enjoy the Arts & Faith: Easter video.   Prayer We give thanks to you, O Lord, for you are good and your steadfast love endures forever.

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