3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER (A)

Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Lk 24:13-35

That very day, the first day of the week.

The day was Easter Sunday.

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

The Resurrection affected the appearance of Jesus. Some give other possible reasons: (a) the sun was setting and this made it difficult for the disciples to see Jesus clearly; or (b) the disciples were in tears and the tears also “blinded” them.

But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.

The two disciples were not only sad. They were deeply disappointed. They had pinned their hopes in him. They felt betrayed.

Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.

Matthew’s gospel identifies the women as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. St. Mark’s gospel identifies them as Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome. St. Luke’s gospel identifies them as The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. In St. John it was only Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb.

Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described.

In St. Mark’s and St. Matthew’s gospel, none of the disciples went to the tomb. In Luke’s gospel, only Peter among the apostles went to the tomb. St. John reports that it was Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved who went to inspect the tomb.

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

On the other hand, if the disciples were deeply disappointed, Jesus was exasperated with them. Their inability to grasp what he had been telling them about his death and resurrection stretched his patience to the limit.

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Although the meal described is undoubtedly a supper, yet the description compels us to think of the Mass. The verbs “took, blessing, broke and gave” are related to the Eucharist. Even the term breaking of bread was used in the early church to refer to the Eucharist.

Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

When Jesus speaks, his words find their way into men’s hearts.