Homily Easter (B) Easter Sunday - Emmaus: Per Crucem ad Lucem

Fr. Andrew Dalton, LC

Homily • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

0 ratings

· 20 views

Notes

Transcript

Emmaus – Per Crucem ad Lucem

Core Message:

FOR THE MIND: What do I want them to KNOW?

· …that the Mass is the place of sacramental ENCOUNTER with the living Jesus.

FOR THE HEART: What do I want them to FEEL?

· …overcome with paschal JOY for Jesus has won the definitive victory for us

· …UNAFRAID of the cross since it is the source of all blessing

Homily: Emmaus – Per Crucem Ad Lucem

JOY: The Church is alive!

· Baptism and confirmation at the Easter vigil last night

We slept in 😊

· I had to pick Luke’s Gospel…the others speak of the early birds. Not us!

· Let’s walk with these disciples right now.

The Greatest Miracle/Sign = Conversion

· Not walking on water, multiplying bread, … raising Lazarus from the dead.

· But the mountain that Christ moves is the human heart…greatest miracle!

· I was a sinner, alienated from the one who loved me into life and without God in the world.

Shanghai from the 26th floor

· How many don’t know you, Lord!

· We can be so stubborn, so blind

Edo @ the Emmaus Retreat

· altar server, lovely religion teacher, personal piety, his own religion, a little of everything, Gnosticism, Buddhism, China, cutthroat environment, lost control, lost his job, lost his soul, one friend, her name was Yao, cried out to God, turned to the Scripture, fell in love, conceived a child, Emmaus retreat, his heart turned,

· the wedding in Perugia: what God’s love can do. He heals what is broken. Light shines out of darkness. The Paschal mystery!

· How many Edos are still out there, still waiting to find God?

Glad you are here, but how many aren’t?

· What are we going to do about it? What did Jesus do?

He drew near.

· He listened, let them speak their hearts, expose their wounds: “We had hoped…”

He challenged them – Foolish men! Slow to Believe!

· What the prophets foretold…an examination of conscience: What am I doing with God’s Word?

· The Mass is foreshadowed here: Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist

· Homily: a dialogue in faith about God's action in our lives

Was it not necessary that the Messiah suffer these things and enter into his glory

· A universal law: What happens to him happens in us.

· DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE CROSS!

· The cross is the bridge between heaven and earth, the source of all blessing

· PER CRUCEM AD LUCEM: through the cross, to the light

They beg him, STAY WITH US

· Here in lies the greatest miracle! He turned their hearts.

· The had fled the Holy City, abandoned their vocation, turned their back on God.

· The hound of heaven hunted them, not to compel them with force, but to woo them with love.

They recognized him IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

· He took, blessed, broke, gave (sound familiar?) – the Last Supper

· They see him in the sacrament, the place of ENCOUNTER, communion by faith

Ite, missa est!

· Run back to Jerusalem! Anxious to share the Good News

· HE’S VICTORIOUS. DO NOT BE AFRAID.

· LIGHT HAS SHONE OUT OF THE DARKNESS. HE IS RISEN.

Readings

Sunday, March 23, 2008 | Easter

Easter Sunday

Year A | Roman Missal | Lectionary

First Reading Acts 10:34a, 37–43

Response Psalm 118:24

Psalm Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23

Second Reading Colossians 3:1–4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b–8

Gospel Acclamation 1 Corinthians 5:7b–8a

Gospel John 20:1–9 or Matthew 28:1–10 or Luke 24:13–35

Index of Readings

42. EASTER SUNDAY A B C

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

THE MASS OF EASTER DAY

FIRST READING

We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34a, 37–43)

Peter proceeded to speak and said:

“You know what has happened all over Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism

that John preached,

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good

and healing all those oppressed by the devil,

for God was with him.

We are witnesses of all that he did

both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.

This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,

not to all the people, but to us,

the witnesses chosen by God in advance,

who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

He commissioned us to preach to the people

and testify that he is the one appointed by God

as judge of the living and the dead.

To him all the prophets bear witness,

that everyone who believes in him

will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23.)

℟.(24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

℟.Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

℟.This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

Alleluia.

“The right hand of the Lord has struck with power;

the right hand of the Lord is exalted.

I shall not die, but live,

and declare the works of the Lord.”

℟.This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

℟.Alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

By the Lord has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

℟.This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

℟.Alleluia.

SECOND READING

A Seek what is above, where Christ is.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (3:1–4)

Brothers and sisters:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ your life appears,

then you too will appear with him in glory.

The word of the Lord.

B Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (5:6b–8)

Brothers and sisters:

Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?

Clear out the old yeast,

so that you may become a fresh batch of dough,

inasmuch as you are unleavened.

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

Therefore, let us celebrate the feast,

not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness,

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The word of the Lord.

SEQUENCE (Victimae paschali laudes)

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

Christ, who only is sinless,

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:

The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

Bright angels attesting,

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

To Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia.

ALLELUIA (cf. 1 Cor 5:7b–8a)

℟.Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;

let us then feast with joy in the Lord.

℟.Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

At an afternoon or evening Mass, another Gospel may be read: Luke 24:13–35—Stay with us since it is almost evening. (see n. 46).

The Gospel from the Easter Vigil (see n. 41) may also be read in place of the following Gospel at any time of the day.

He had to rise from the dead.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (20:1–9)

The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus. 13 Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16 j but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23 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. 24 Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” 33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Roman Missal

At the Mass during the Day

71. Entrance Antiphon [Cf. Ps 139 (138):18, 5–6]

I have risen, and I am with you still, alleluia.

You have laid your hand upon me, alleluia.

Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, alleluia, alleluia.

Or: [Lk 24:34; cf. Rev 1:6]

The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

To him be glory and power

for all the ages of eternity, alleluia, alleluia.

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said.

72. Collect

O God, who on this day,

through your Only Begotten Son,

have conquered death

and unlocked for us the path to eternity,

grant, we pray, that we who keep

the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection

may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,

rise up in the light of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

The Creed is said.

However, in Easter Sunday Masses which are celebrated with a congregation, the rite of the renewal of baptismal promises may take place after the Homily, according to the text used at the Easter Vigil (p. 382). In that case the Creed is omitted.

73. Prayer over the Offerings

Exultant with paschal gladness, O Lord,

we offer the sacrifice

by which your Church

is wondrously reborn and nourished.

Through Christ our Lord.

74. Preface I of Easter, The Paschal Mystery, pp. 558–559.

When the Roman Canon is used, the proper forms of the Communicantes (In communion with those) and Hanc igitur (Therefore, Lord, we pray) are said.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

at all times to acclaim you, O Lord,

but (on this night / on this day / in this time) above all

to laud you yet more gloriously,

when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

For he is the true Lamb

who has taken away the sins of the world;

by dying he has destroyed our death,

and by rising, restored our life.

Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,

every land, every people exults in your praise

and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts,

sing together the unending hymn of your glory,

as they acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts …

p 388 75. Communion Antiphon [1 Cor 5:7–8]

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed, alleluia;

therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread

of purity and truth, alleluia, alleluia.

76. Prayer after Communion

Look upon your Church, O God,

with unfailing love and favor,

so that, renewed by the paschal mysteries,

she may come to the glory of the resurrection.

Through Christ our Lord.

77. To impart the blessing at the end of Mass, the Priest may appropriately use the formula of Solemn Blessing for the Mass of the Easter Vigil, p. 386.

78. For the dismissal of the people, there is sung (as above no. 69) or said:

Go forth, the Mass is ended, alleluia, alleluia.

Or:

Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia.

R. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

CCC

112 1. Be especially attentive “to the content and unity of the whole Scripture.” Different as the books which comprise it may be, Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God’s plan, of which Christ Jesus is the center and heart, open since his Passover.

“He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures”

601 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of “the righteous one, my Servant” as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin. Citing a confession of faith that he himself had “received,” St. Paul professes that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.”398 In particular Jesus’ redemptive death fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant. Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant.400 After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.

643 Given all these testimonies, Christ’s Resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge it as an historical fact. It is clear from the facts that the disciples’ faith was drastically put to the test by their master’s Passion and death on the cross, which he had foretold. The shock provoked by the Passion was so great that at least some of the disciples did not at once believe in the news of the Resurrection. Far from showing us a community seized by a mystical exaltation, the Gospels present us with disciples demoralized (“looking sad”504) and frightened. For they had not believed the holy women returning from the tomb and had regarded their words as an “idle tale.” When Jesus reveals himself to the Eleven on Easter evening, “he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.”

645 By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears the traces of his passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ’s humanity can no longer be confined to earth and belongs henceforth only to the Father’s divine realm.510 For this reason too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom of appearing as he wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith.

1346 The liturgy of the Eucharist unfolds according to a fundamental structure which has been preserved throughout the centuries down to our own day. It displays two great parts that form a fundamental unity: (103)

— the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily, and general intercessions;

— the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving, and communion.

The liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist together form “one single act of worship”; the Eucharistic table set for us is the table both of the Word of God and of the Body of the Lord.

1347 Is this not the same movement as the Paschal meal of the risen Jesus with his disciples? Walking with them he explained the Scriptures to them; sitting with them at table “he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”

Scott Hahn: Emmaus and Us (link)

We should put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples in today’s Gospel. Downcast and confused they’re making their way down the road, unable to understand all the things that have occurred.

They know what they’ve seen – a prophet mighty in word and deed. They know what they were hoping for – that He would be the redeemer of Israel. But they don’t know what to make of His violent death at the hands of their rulers.

They can’t even recognize Jesus as He draws near to walk with them. He seems like just another foreigner visiting Jerusalem for the Passover.

Note that Jesus doesn’t disclose His identity until they describe how they found His tomb empty but “Him they did not see.” That’s how it is with us, too. Unless He revealed himself we would see only an empty tomb and a meaningless death.

How does Jesus make himself known at Emmaus? First, He interprets “all the Scriptures” as referring to Him. In today’s First Reading and Epistle, Peter also opens the Scriptures to proclaim the meaning of Christ’s death according to the Father’s “set plan” – foreknown before the foundation of the world.

Jesus is described as a new Moses and a new Passover lamb. He is the One of whom David sang in today’s Psalm – whose soul was not abandoned to corruption but was shown the path of life.

After opening the Scriptures, Jesus at table took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples – exactly what He did at the Last Supper (see Luke 22:14-20).

In every Eucharist, we reenact that Easter Sunday at Emmaus. Jesus reveals himself to us in our journey. He speaks to our hearts in the Scriptures. Then at the table of the altar, in the person of the priest, He breaks the bread.

The disciples begged him, “Stay with us.” So He does. Though He has vanished from our sight, in the Eucharist – as at Emmaus – we know Him in the breaking of the bread.

Related Media

Related Sermons