Third Sunday 0f Easter, Cycle A

How will you bring someone back to Church today?

Visit Christ in Our Neighborhood for free scripture reflections for small groups. Then, invite a friend, family member, or neighbor to join you and break open God’s Word together!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, by Your cross and resurrection, You have set us free! May we celebrate Your rising from the dead with joy, knowing that we shall follow You through death into life! We ask this in Your holy name. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33

A common fact is that the number one fear people have, even more than death, is public speaking. The fear would likely be greater if it was before a large crowd, let’s say 3,000 – 5,000 people who were already hostile. Adding to the fact that most of these people know that you and your friends were hiding in fear just a few weeks prior. You didn’t have time to prepare, and you don’t have notes.

Peter appeals to his audience twice to listen carefully to his words. Even Jesus, the most gifted speaker in history, pressed His audiences to take care how they listened. It is likely Peter remembered well the lesson taught to him by Jesus, “do not worry about what you are to say, the Holy Spirit will speak through you”. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is with us when we need to speak, if we are open to Him.

Peter expounded through the prophet Joel and the Psalms that our God of mercy provides recourse if we call upon His name, and His name is Jesus.

Questions

    • Recall a time when the Holy Spirit spoke through you. Is Jesus revealed by what you say and do?

2nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21

Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, speaks of the prophet David who believed in God’s promise, that He would raise up an heir who would one day sit on David’s throne, and that God would not abandon his soul to the netherworld. In this way, Peter says, David foresaw the resurrection of Christ.

We experience Christ’s resurrection power in our Baptism when we receive the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit who empowered Peter. We, too, will one day rise from the dead to stand before the throne of God. On that day, we will be held accountable for our actions. We should center our faith, worship and praise in God and live according to the way shown from the teachings of Scripture, loving our enemies and trusting in the Lord. Asking the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to do God’s will is one way to help prepare us for the day of judgement.

Question

    • In what way has the recent experience of Lent and this new experience of Easter allowed me to notice the actions of the Holy Spirit in my life?

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Although we all think we know Jesus, sometimes we don’t recognize Him. Even Cleopas and the other unnamed disciple – unnamed, perhaps, to represent us as fellow travelers – thought they knew Jesus from spending time with Him. But did they really listen to His Word? They had given up hope after His Passion because of what they presumed about Jesus. They actually lived with Jesus but didn’t understand who or what He was.

“With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him.”

Jesus takes the time to explain Scripture to them and their hearts were on fire. When we understand something, it’s easy to get excited about      it, but first we need to understand. The two disciples had open minds and the ability to transform discouragement to hearts on fire. Jesus               stayed with them because they asked. Then Jesus revealed Himself in the breaking of the Bread.

Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we too can grow and understand more about Jesus, if only we ask. When we truly recognize Him, not only in the Eucharist but how He works in our lives, we can’t help but be on fire and want to share this news with everyone.

Question

    • Do we recognize Jesus in the breaking of the Bread or is it just some ritual we repeat?
    • When is the last time our hearts were on fire?
This Week’s Task

Take someone (friend, neighbor, even a family member) to Mass who hasn’t been in a long time. Allow them to enjoy the Real Presence of Christ in the breaking of the Bread.

Group Prayer

The group is invited to sing the following:

Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see your face
Open my eyes, Lord
Help me to see

Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear your voice
Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear

Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love like you
Open my heart, Lord
Help me to love

Psalm

Response: Alleluia

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.

R. Alleluia

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R. Alleluia

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

R. Alleluia

Conclude with an Our Father

Used with permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John P. Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix.