Pastor's Letter 20230423 - 23 April 2023 - Word and Sacrament

[Father Michael]

April 23^rd, 2023

Third Sunday of Easter

Jesus breaks bread with the disciples on the Emmaus Road.

A Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme:

“Word and Sacrament”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Acts 2:14.22:28)  In this reading, taken from a sermon on the day of Pentecost, ^†Peter preached about the Resurrection of Jesus to the Jews:  Jesus, Who died, is now risen!  God has vindicated his words and works and given Him a place of glory.  The message of Easter for us is to live our lives full of faith and joy; and, to bring hope to the downcast.

^†Peter and the Eleven were not the only ones who experienced the power of the Holy Spirit.  Those who wholeheartedly responded to ^†Peter’s sermon were also moved by the Spirit.  Initiating them into a lifelong process, it also evoked a call to reform.  All baptized believers are to embrace a radical openness to, and reevaluation of, the identity of the Person of Jesus, and of His significance.  In Acts, ^†Luke envisioned a universal mission—that would form a universal community—wherein Jesus would be proclaimed as both Lord and Christ.

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(1 Peter 3:15-18)  Christians are encouraged to remain steadfast under pressure in their attachment to Christ.  Through our Baptism, we become heirs to all the mysteries of salvation.   Each time we meet Jesus, receiving Him in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we celebrate His victory over death and make it our own.  

Writing from Rome (80-90 A.D.,) the author of 1 Peter (^†Peter, the apostle, died in the mid 60s,) was concerned that Gentiles who converted to Christ should recognize themselves as belonging to Him, just as the ancient Jews saw themselves: as “a chosen race; a royal priesthood; and a holy nation” (See: Exodus 19:6.)  Today’s text compares Israel’s journey through the desert to that of the Christian life:  Christians hope for salvation just as ancient Jews yearned for the “promised land.”  The blood of Christ, from a “spotless Lamb,” has saved all peoples.

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(Luke 24:13-35)  The Risen Jesus joined Cleopas and another of His disciples on their journey to Emmaus (appx. 10-12 km from Jerusalem,) and showed them that it was by dying that He entered glory.  Although exalted, Jesus is not gone from those who believe in Him.  Each time the “bread” of His Word and of His body is broken, during the Holy Mass, He is with us.

The ”Emmaus Story” represents a magnificent treasury of theological and Christological insights at several different levels of development.  Unique to the Gospel of Luke, it is reminiscent of the actual experience of the Church in Syrian Antioch.  In two generations following Jesus’ death, Antiochene Christians encountered the Risen Lord in the “breaking of the bread”—the earliest form of the Liturgy of the Mass.  ^†Luke had an apologetic motive (a doctrinal defense,) in the delayed recognition of Christ by the disciples.  They did not initially recognize Him, due to His having been “glorified” by His resurrection.  Finally, recognition of Jesus as the Messiah came to them at the moment of His “breaking of the bread.”  In so doing, He showed He abides forever with His followers.  Similarly, in our journeys through life, we may be visited by unrecognized guests, who reveal truths to us, as well.  

Sharing the Story

It is said that all sorrows can be bone if we can “tell a story” about them.  The two disciples in today’s Gospel indeed had a very sad story—Plunged into gloom at the death of Jesus, their dreams of Him being the long-awaited Messiah had been reduced to rubble.  A crucified, humiliated Messiah didn’t make the slightest sense!  Even looking at the event from every possible angle, they still couldn’t make sense of it.  

When Jesus joined them on their way, He showed great sensitivity.  People often find it’s easier to talk to strangers, and His simple, kindly manner enabled them to “open up” and pour out their story to Him.  He listened patiently and lovingly, so that all that was “dammed up” came flowing forth.  

Jesus is said to have “accompanied” them.  No matter what age we are, we also need someone to “walk” with us.  Accompaniment is something very gentle.  Interpersonal communion is established gradually, and mutual trust and desire for the truth increases over time.  Even though people often don’t want to hear the truth, they can accept it when the “right moment” comes along.

Jesus began to speak only after they had unburdened themselves.  Then, He “opened the Scriptures for them,” reminding them the prophets had foretold the Messiah was to suffer and die, before entering into His glory.  Far from being the end of their dream, Jesus’ death occurred in precisely the way it had.  His words of light and warmth began to filter into their dark, cold hearts.  

However, it was not until it was “all over” that the disciples understood what had happened to them on their journey.  But isn’t his how it always is, in “real life?”  We live our lives forward, but comprehend them backwards—in retrospect.  Lacking perspective and understanding gained through hindsight, we seldom know, at the time, what is happening to us.  Typically, we have enough to do just to “cope,” hour to hour, day to day.  Only afterwards—sometimes long afterwards—our eyes are opened and we can begin to appreciate our experiences.  

Eventually, we may even be grateful for our sadness, realizing we are often healthier for having been through it.  This is what happened to the disciples: they realized the message of Jesus’ death—glory attained through suffering.  Having left Jerusalem behind, they had lost faith.  But then, they joyfully returned, transformed—their faith renewed—and resumed their discipleship with their community.  Their encounter didn’t foster evasion of responsibility, but encouragement and commitment.  

We expect to find God in joy, not in pain.  Realizing the meaning to our pain doesn’t remove it, but it does change our attitude. This is why the disciples were able to turn their lives around.  For some people, faith is only a construct of the mind, having to do with truths, dogmas, doctrines, creeds and catechisms.  But true faith is more concerned with the heart—consisting in a relationship of love with God, Who first loved us.  Without this, faith is like a fireplace without a fire.

Each of us can look on our lives as a series of “stories” that coalesce over time to form one overarching story.  The sad fact is, however, that they all end in something we don’t like in our stories—death.  We always want the “happy ending.”

Our “happy ending” is eternal life with God in heaven.  Jesus’ death and resurrection made that possible for us, and it’s something we always must have in the forefront of our minds.  Otherwise, the doldrums and tragedies of human life can make us despair, and lose hope.  Christ’s Resurrection opens all our stories to the prospect, not just of a “good ending,” but of a “glorious” one.  The first and last words of each of our stories belong to God.

The main thing that came across to the two disciples was the conviction that Jesus loved them.  That made their “hearts burn.”  The story shows that God’s goodness makes our deepest dreams come true, in the most surprising ways.  And the story also shows us the true meaning of ministry:  to walk with people; to be present to them; and to listen—these are the “essential good works” of today…for all of us….

May God Richly Bless You!

 

To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:  

 

God is Working His Purpose Out.docx

Edited April 23, 2023 by Father Michael