In Hopeful Patience

Third Sunday of Easter

26 April 2020

First reading                                                                        Acts 2:14, 32-33
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say: This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are 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 that you both see and hear.”

Second reading                                                        1 Peter 1:17-21

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Gospel                                                                     Luke 24:13-35

Two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking together, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over 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 these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early that morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 they did not see him.”

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

When was the last Mass you have physically attended? Mine was 19th March, the feast of St Joseph. When news broke out that public Masses will suspended, it felt really different. It felt, as some news commentators would say, like World War 2. I suddenly remembered the story of how my late grandparents would still go to church for daily Mass during those times. My Lola told me that there were moments when only she, my Lolo, and the priest were present in the liturgy. Fast forward, you would see and be inspired with priests and their collaborators offering the Mass on live stream.

The suspension of public Masses (and the mandatory quarantine), for me, brings us back to those two disciples in today's Gospel. They were sad because they have lost their Master and friend. Their sadness overwhelmed them a lot that they became "foolish...[and] slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared". Their sadness prevented them from recognizing Jesus who walked with them to Emmaus.

Covid-19 has brought the world to its knees. It has caused a lot of anxiety on people and, if we are not careful, it may lead us to selfishness, complacency, hopelessness, depression, illness, and death. At times, we can be tempted to be like those two disciples to the point of failing to see and hear Jesus.

Thanks to God for creating technology, we are able to still participate in the Holy Mass and other spiritual exercises such as the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, novenas to the saints, recollections, etc. Let's take these opportunities to stay connected with the Lord. In hopeful patience, let's allow Him to keep "our hearts burning within us ... while he [opens] the scriptures to us" and breaks bread with us. My Lola used to echo the teaching that the family, the home is the domestic church. Indeed, this has been made more obvious when the lock down was enforced. Relating to the Gospel, our homes have become the new Emmaus!

And as we keep ourselves sustained by the Lord's Word and Sacrament online as it may be, let's look forward to the day when we could once again be back to our other Emmauses - our churches and chapels - eager to hear His Word and receive His Body and Blood. Lest we forget, our story doesn't end in Emmaus. Like the disciples, we're called to eagerly return to the Jerusalems of our lives - our peers, neighborhoods, workplaces, parishes, organizations, etc - and share the good news: "The Lord has risen indeed!".

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in these uncertain times, like the two disciples, we beg You: stay with us. Keep our hearts burning and yearning for Your Word and Body. Keep our hearts burning and yearning to proclaim Your Word and share Your Body. Keep our hearts from anything that would prevent us from knowing, loving, and serving You. Amen.

The Word Alive

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi'ah, Shema, Anai'ah, Uri'ah, Hilki'ah, and Ma-asei'ah on his right hand; and Pedai'ah, Mish'a-el, Malchi'jah, Hashum, Hash-bad'danah, Zechari'ah, and Meshul'lam on his left hand.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemi'ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm: Psalm 19:8-10, 15

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Reflection
By Pietro S Albano

The Mass is divided into 2 important parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  In the Liturgy of the Word,  the Word of God (as contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible) is proclaimed (First/Second Readings and Gospel), explained (Homily), and given assent to (Profession of Faith).  In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the bread and wine are offered, consecrated to become the Body and Blood of Jesus, and distributed in Holy Communion.

Sunday after Sunday, holyday after holyday, special occasion after special occasion we may have often found ourselves in church gathered with our family and other believers to listen to God's Word proclaimed in the Mass.  Are we as attentive and devout as the Israelites were in the First Reading?  When we are in church, do our celebration give us a sense of belongingness to one body - as envisioned in the Second Reading - even if we don't really know the person sat next to us?

We have often equated our attendance in the Mass as obligation.  Sometimes, this kind of mindset gives us and others (the young especially) the wrong notion of going to church.  Going to church becomes sapilitan (by force).  Instead of obligation, why not see the Mass as an act of love? Isn't it that if you love someone (in this case, Jesus), you would do everything to know more and be with your beloved?  If we foster this kind of thinking, I believe we can become more open to the Holy Spirit who will empower us like Jesus "...to preach good news to the poor...to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord". Eventually, God's Word would no longer be confined in a thick book, but come alive in us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us the grace we need to humbly receive and ponder Your Word.  Gather us as one body working together to bring Your Word to those in need of its healing and power.  Grant this through Jesus, Your Word-made-Flesh and our Lord. Amen.