Words of Spirit and Life

Theme: THE RISEN LORD APPEARS TO US TODAY IN THE WORD OF GOD, IN THE EUCHARIST, AND IN THE COMMUNITY

• Acts 2:14. 22-33;
• Psalm 15 (16): 1-2. 5. 7-11. R/ v. 11;
• 1 Peter 1:17-21
• Luke 24:13-35

1. Today is the Third Sunday of Easter and Easter is a time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The word “Easter” probably comes from the word “East”, the direction from which the sun rises and gives life! Jesus Christ rises from the dead and gives us new life! The 25^th of December was in fact the feast of the sun god, but we replaced it with Christmas, because Jesus Christ is the new Sun God!

The gospel today tells us that the risen Lord appears to us today in the word of God, in the Eucharist, and in the community! The gospel today tells us that the two disciples were on their way to Emmaus and Jesus joined them on their way, but they did not recognize him. They recognized Jesus only at the breaking of bread, that is, the Eucharist, but then Jesus vanished from their sight.

Jesus vanished into the bread and changed it into his body, and when we eat the bread of his body, the risen Lord enters into us and changes us into his body, by forgiving our sins and giving us new life! When we eat bread, the bread becomes us, but when we eat the bread of the body of Christ, we become the body of Christ! The risen body of the Lord is not limited by time and space. It can pass through closed doors and be at any place at an instant. We eat the body of the risen Lord!  

The gospel also tells us that when the risen Lord explained the scriptures to the two disciples their hearts were burning within them, that is, the risen Lord reveals himself to the disciples in the word of God! Finally the gospel tells us that the two disciples returned to Jerusalem to the community of the Eleven (excluding Judas) and they were told that the Lord has indeed risen from the dead and has appeared to Simon (Peter), the head of the community! Again, the gospel today tells us that the risen Lord appears to us today in the word of God, in the Eucharist, and in the community!

The risen Lord appears to us today in the Mass! In the Mass we have the word of God, the Eucharist, and the community. The word of God gives faith, and when we celebrate the Eucharist with faith, the Holy Spirit of the risen Lord will come and help us build the community!

The duty of the priest (“ministerial priesthood”) is to be prophet, priest and king, that is, to preach and teach the word of God, to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and to build the kingdom of God, to build the community, and to build the Church.

In baptism we received the Holy Spirit and we share in the “common priesthood” of Jesus Christ. In baptism we were also anointed with the oil of chrism as Jesus Christ was anointed prophet, priest and king. We too teach and preach the word of God, celebrate the Eucharist, and build the kingdom of God, the community, and the Church!        

2. The first reading tells us that on the day of Pentecost, Peter and the Eleven Apostles (including Matthias) proclaimed the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that all who believed and are baptized will receive the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of their sins. Indeed, that very day three thousand were baptized! (Ac 2:41)

We have to continue to proclaim the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that all who believe and are baptized will receive the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of their sins; and so that every year there will be more and more baptisms in our parish Church. We have to continue to be “kerygmatic”, that is, to proclaim the good news!   

3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. In fact, the first reading quoted the responsorial psalm. The responsorial psalm has four stanzas. The first reading quoted the second, third and fourth stanzas (Ac 2: 25-28; Ps 15 (16): 8-11; NJB) of the responsorial psalm to tell us about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The response of the responsorial psalm tells us that the risen Lord will give us life, joy and happiness! Thus the response of the responsorial psalm:

“Show us, Lord, the path of life.”

The response is taken from the last stanza/verse of the psalm:

“You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.” (Ps 15 (16): 11; SM)

4. The second reading tells us about the sacrament of baptism. The second reading tells us that we who are baptized must live good and holy lives, because we were not purchased / ransomed with silver or gold, but we were ransomed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ! Grace is free, but it is not cheap!

5. Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and the risen Lord will give us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us to proclaim the good news of His death and resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that all who believe and are baptized will receive the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of their sins. The Holy Spirit will give us life, joy and happiness! The Holy Spirit will also help us live good and holy lives.

    A happy Easter Season to all of you! Easter Season begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost Sunday. It is a season of fifty days. The Easter candle will remain in the sanctuary (sacred place) for the fifty days of the Easter Season. After that it will be used throughout the year for baptism and funeral masses. Again, a happy Easter Season to all of you!          

Amen!

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