3rd Sunday of Easter, Reflection on the Gospel

3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

LK 24:13-35

 In today’s Gospel, we heard two people were going to a village called Emmaus.  Some people say that they were also disciples of Jesus Christ. Why were they leaving Jerusalem? Because they were so disappointed. They had believed that Jesus was their Messiah, but he was crucified and killed. For them, Jerusalem became a place of pain, sorrow and disappointment. They were distressed and sad. There was no reason to be in Jerusalem.  So they had to travel to Emmaus to run away from their pain, sorrow and disappointment. But Jesus accompanies them. And when He broke the bread, they recognized Jesus and He restored their life. They were happy once again. And what did they do? They returned back to Jerusalem. Now, Jerusalem was not the place of death but life, it was not the place of sorrow, but a place of joy.

What can we learn from today’s Gospel? The journey of the disciples to Emmaus begins with sadness, and despair. But it ends with joy and hope. Their story now is a story filled with life and hope. The Emmaus story helps us understand that we do not walk alone. Jesus is with us. Our life is a journey and Jesus is the way and we are called to follow. It seems at time that we are alone but Jesus is with us at all times and in all situations.  Jesus reveals Himself in the Holy Eucharist in the breaking of bread as He unites the Christian community into his Body, and He communicates with us and speaks to us in the Scriptures. 

 The story of these two disciples is our story. I would like you to remember the times when our hope was shattered? Remember the times when our life was filled with sorrow and pain. Remember the times, when we wanted to run away from our disappointments, Remember, the times when we wanted to run away from our life, and remember the times when our life had no meaning? Our Lord Jesus Christ never leaves our side. In all those difficult moments of our life, He always accompanies us, and He will restore our well-being, He will restore our joy and happiness in our lives. Let us surrender all our worries and anxieties to Him.

One day, a father and son were crossing a river. The father told him, my son, hold my hand so that you may not be drowned in the river. The son replied, Dad, you hold my hand. Because if the river is deep, I may leave your hand, but if you hold my hand, I know that you will never leave me.