III Sunday of Easter:[2015]:Acts3:13-15,17-19;IJn 2:1-5;Lk24:35-48

III Sunday of Easter:[2015]:Acts3:13-15,17-19;IJn 2:1-5;Lk24:35-48

Introduction:  Last Sunday’s Gospel account was about the disciples who were locked up in the Upper Room out of fear and Jesus’ appearance among them. Today’s Gospel account is about other disciples dejectedly walking from Jerusalem to a nearby village called Emmaus and Jesus’ appearance among them also.  In today’s account the important point revolves around recognition of Jesus. Here we find this group of disciples at first failing to recognize Jesus and in the end they recognize Him. What happened? Why did they at first think He was a stranger and later come to realize who He really was?

Exegesis: Can you imagine if you really were there in that horrible praetorium shouting “Crucify him, Crucify him” and demanding that Pilate send Jesus to be tortured to death? Certainly, when you heard the report about His resurrection, you would have thought, "If this is true, and Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, I'm doomed.” Even worse, if you were one of the temple priests fanning the crowd into rage, you would think that there was no chance you would escape the fires of hell. But St. Peter in today's first reading, tells the people who were in that crowd, including those who led them, that if they repented and are converted to Christ, their sins will be wiped away. He reminded them that even though they had demanded Barrabbas over Jesus, "You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you,” God would not give up on them or on anyone. He knew that they didn't fully understand what they were doing. They just had to repent their sins and turn to Christ. This is how great God's mercy is. People who had demanded Jesus' death are forgiven if they repent and accept Christ. At the same time we need to stop focusing on our sinful actions or inactions. We need to focus on God's love and mercy.

He is the one who gives them his peace. He is the one who strengthens their faith and takes away their doubts and guilt. He is the one who opens their minds and explains the Scriptures to them. He is the one who declares them his witnesses. The disciples do not do much in the encounter except open their eyes to see him, their hearts to let in his peace, their minds to receive his instruction. And in the end when he says, "You are witnesses of these things," they would be expected to respond, "Yes, Lord," and then go out and try to be just that.

Joke : An atheist professor was teaching a college class at Alabama and he told the class that he was going to prove that there is no God.  He said, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you 15 minutes!" Ten minutes went by.

He kept taunting God, saying, "Here I am, God. I'm still waiting." He got down to the last couple of minutes and a big 240 pound football player in the class walked up to the professor, hit him full force in the face, and sent him flying from his platform. The professor struggled up, obviously shaken and yelled, "What's the matter with you? Why did you do that?"

The football player replied, "GOD WAS BUSY; HE SENT ME!"

Practical Applications:   1) Our witnessing to Christ is simply, as the two disciples on the way to Emmaus did, by telling the story of our personal encounter with Christ to others. It is by this sharing we become true Christians. 2) Matthew 5:9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God”.

Introduction: Third Sunday of Easter

Message: Peter proclaims the wonders of the Lord:  The suffering Messiah is raised from the dead and has been glorified.  This Jesus is our intercessor, and our offering for sin, our peace.

Saints in this week:  21 – Twenty First – Tuesday – Saint Anselm, Bishop, Doctor of the Church; 23 – Twenty Third – Thursday - Saint George, martyr; Saint Adalbert, bishop, martyr; 24 – Twenty Forth – Friday – Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, martyr; 25 – Twenty Fifth – Saturday – Saint Mark, Evangelist;