Theme of the Sunday: They Recognized Him at the “Breaking of Bread.” The announcer of the Word should stress the message that we too can meet the Risen Lord when we hear the word of God and take part in the “breaking of bread.” The first and the second reading draw our attention to the need to have recourse to the Scriptures if we want to understand what happened to Jesus and what happens to us every day.
Entrance Antiphon
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name. O render him glorious praise, alleluia.
Collect
May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection. Through our Lord.
FIRST READING
“It was not possible for him to be held by death.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14.22-33)
[On the day of Pentecost,] Peter, standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give ear to my words. “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know — this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. “‘ “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 16:1-2a and 5.7-8.9-10.11 (R. 11a)
R/. Lord, you will show me the path of life.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord.”
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
you yourself who secure my lot. R/.
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord before me always;
with him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. R/.
And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my flesh shall rest in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to hell,
nor let your holy one see corruption. R/.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever. R/.
SECOND READING
“You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a Lamb without blemish.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter I Peter 1 : 17-21
Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The word of the Lord.
ALLEIUIA Luke 24:32
Alleluia. Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn with love when you speak to us. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“They recognised him in the breaking of the bread.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 24: 13-35)
That very day [the first day of the week], two of the disciples of Jesus were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognising him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each, other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the Eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The Eucharist is at the Centre of the life of the church. It is the sacrament of the body and Blood and Christ, and is one with the sacrifice of the cross. The disciples of Jesus were disappointed because of the stories of the resurrection. Jesus took them on a journey through the scriptures, explaining to them all that is written about himself. However, they recognized him in the breaking of bread. Jesus is still visibly present in the church and continues to reveal himself through the Eucharist. The readings prepare us for that encounter with the risen Lord in the Eucharist. Jesus continues to reveal himself and feed his people in his word and in the Eucharist.