St. John The Baptist

Browsing A message from Father Mark

April 26, 2020

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER  C

One thing that intrigues me about today’s gospel reading is that Jesus appears on that first Easter Sunday to a couple of second – or third – string players.  These two might be just a couple of those on again off again followers.  Heck, this is the only time that a disciple named Cleopas is mentioned in the gospels and the other disciple doesn’t even get a name.

It really is fascinating that Jesus would appear on that first Sunday, – at least in Luke’s gospel anyway - not to any of the twelve disciples, or even to the women who went to the tomb, but to two of his lesser-known followers.

And yet, at the same time it’s kind of encouraging.  It reminds us that the way of discipleship is open to each one of us.  It might seem strange to us at first, but just like the two essentially anonymous disciples on the road to Emmaus, Christ will also open our minds to understand his word. 

Why me? You may ask.  Well, Jesus isn’t looking for supermen or wonder women.  He’s looking for ordinary people, open-hearted, men and women, to receive God’s gifts of grace, forgiveness and love – and then to pass that grace, forgiveness, and love on to others.

It’s in the breaking of the bread that the two disciples recognized Jesus.  For us, receiving the Eucharist is one of the ways we affirm our connection with the living Body of Christ – especially visible as we snake our way in line up to the sanctuary.  And that includes all of us!  Young and old, women and men, people of every race and tongue and economic class. 

I’ve felt this connection myself in magnificent cathedrals and humble parish churches.  I’ve felt it here in Whiting and in Rensselaer and in northwest Ohio.  As different as all those places might be, it is the sacrament that unites us.

So, what does this all mean at this strange and difficult time, when our communion lines and our physical presence to one another have all but disappeared?         

In the gospel the two disciples were grieving the loss of Jesus, but after they recognized him in the breaking of the bread, they realized he was still with them.  That is as true today as it was back then.  Jesus has not abandoned us.  He is present in his living Body, to help us cope with any hardship we may have.

This time of separation from receiving the Eucharist may be an opportunity to increase our love of the sacrament and the faith communities in which we receive it.  This separation may remind us right now that this Body – the Church – knows no borders and that at the end of every Mass we are sent to go forth to love and serve the Lord, by loving and serving others.

It’s up to us to bring our identity as the Body of Christ to life and not to leave it at the church door.

Remember, that the two disciples didn’t actually clue in to who Jesus was and what he was saying until he sat down with them and broke bread at their table:  An ordinary act; an ordinary meal; in an ordinary house; with ordinary folks.  Nothing fancy, just a simple meal; and it was then that they recognized the Lord!

Subscribe

RSS Feed

Archive


Access all blogs

Subscribe to all of our blogs