Third Sunday of Easter / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
Again, as is usual for the weekend Masses of the Easter season, the Acts of the Apostles provides the first reading for the Liturgy of the Word.
This reading recalls an event like several others in Acts. St. Peter preached in the name of the eleven surviving Apostles. His remarks were brief and crisp.
The term used by biblical scholars is that Peter’s message was kerygmatic, drawing from kerygma, the Greek word for “message.” It means that Peter’s words contained the basic information about Jesus and about God’s plan of salvation.
Despite the small number of Christians at the time, and despite the facts that the Jewish culture and the effects of Roman domination were overwhelming, the Apostles still were determined to speak aloud boldly about Jesus.
Their determination revealed their trust in Jesus as Savior and as Son of God. The world desperately needed Jesus. Only Jesus could fill what the world needed then and still needs today. Remembering last weekend’s first reading that described both the early Church’s love for the Lord and its outreach to the troubled and needy, this reading shows that the first followers of Christ saw informing others about the Redeemer as a loving service.
Note also here, as elsewhere in Acts, even though the other Apostles were present, Peter alone spoke on their behalf.
The First Epistle of St. Peter supplies the next reading. Scholars debate the authorship of this epistle. Was Peter the author? Was someone writing in Peter’s name the author? Or was the author presenting ideas that had come from Peter?
In any case, the reading shows how totally committed to Jesus the Savior the early Christians were and how aware they were that salvation had come through the Lord’s death and resurrection.
The last reading from St. Luke’s Gospel is the powerful and lovely story of the risen Lord’s walk to Emmaus with two disciples. The Emmaus narrative appears only in Luke. It is one of the most renowned and beloved passages in the New Testament.
Important in its message is the fact that, regardless of their devotion to Jesus, the disciples still only have a limited understanding of him and his Gospel. They are limited human beings, bewildered by the events of the Lord’s death and resurrection. They need Jesus to understand the deep meaning and purpose of all that they had seen.
Secondly, Jesus meets this need. He teaches them. Thirdly, Jesus is with them. Finally, as they celebrate a meal together, heavy with eucharistic overtones, Jesus is the central figure presiding as they “break the bread” (Lk 24:30). After hearing the Lord’s explanation of events and encountering Jesus, they join in a holy meal. The connection with the Eucharist is too strong to overlook.
Reflection
Beginning with the Scripture readings for Easter itself and continuing this weekend, the Church expresses to us boldly and clearly its unflinching belief that, after his crucifixion and death, the Lord Jesus rose to new life.
With equal vigor and equally strong faith, it also insists to us that Jesus did not rise and then disappear. Instead, he was with the Apostles, showing to St. Thomas his wounds and blessing those who believe. He was alive, present and still teaching during the trip to Emmaus. The meal at Emmaus was the culmination of the two disciples’ time with Jesus.
The use of the technique of kerygma gives us the basic facts of the Lord’s identity and mission. The experience of the Apostles shows us that they literally knew the risen Christ. We turn to them to know Jesus ourselves.
Knowing Jesus is more than possessing data. It confronts us with the obligation to follow Jesus if we know him.
By our discipleship, we extend Christ to those whom we meet. †