The liturgy for the third Sunday of Easter presents to us Luke's account of the Risen Lord's victory meal with his disciples. The Lord comes to his own after he has gathered them into one place. He changes them and reassures them that empowerment will be given from on high so that they can become his witnesses starting from Jerusalem to the ends of the world1. Read the article about Jesus's Victory Meal and use the following as your guide.
1. The presence of the Risen Lord provokes changes not only in the emotions of the disciples (from fear to joy) but also in their knowledge ("he opened their minds") of Christ, the Scriptures and themselves ("you are my witnesses").
Reflect. The different changes in the disciples begin after Jesus stands in their midst and says to them "Peace!" Our celebration of Easter cannot be separated from a relationship with the Risen Lord that grows in the peace that he alone can give. How do you see your relationship with the Lord? How has it changed you into the person that you perceive yourself to be?
2. The Lord tells not only the apostles but also the two men who have just arrived from Emmaus that they are to be his witnesses to the whole world. They are to proclaim not only the resurrection but also the forgiveness of sins.
Reflect. You are probably familiar with the things contained in the gospel of Luke about forgiveness. Christ on the cross cried out "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He also forgave the repentant thief. Luke portrays Jesus as the friend of sinners. In fact, it is only in his gospel that we find the story of the prodigal father (Luke 15). The proclamation of the gospel of forgiveness of sins is a proclamation made by persons who forgive because they have been forgiven. How do you make the gift of forgiveness you have received from the Lord an active and transforming reality in your life? How do you make forgiveness your own life-style?
3. The Jews believed that when the Just Resurrect, God's reign has come. So when Jesus appears as the first-fruit of the Resurrection, the disciples are alerted to this new phase in human history: God's future is NOW! From the moment Jesus leaves his disciples, the time of the Church begins and the time of God's reign. The proclamation of the good news is precisely the announcement that the reign of God is inaugurated by Jesus, sustained by the power of the Spirit in the Church until the Lord returns.
Reflect. The victory meal in Luke 24:36-48 is a victory shared with us. It is the eucharistic meal we also celebrate until the coming of the Lord. We are winners and so we can afford to forgive all wrongs, we can afford to be generous with others, we can afford to bear the burden of others ... And what's more, we can afford all of these and bear in our countenance the joy and peace that only the Lord can give. How has the eucharist given you strength in being a witness to the Lord's victory over death? You have become -- by the grace of the Risen Lord -- a "Can-Afford". How has this fact make you generous in your dealings with other people? with your family and friends? with your enemies?
- 1. In Luke-Acts, what appears in John 20:20-23 as given in one event, is separated. Luke emphasizes that the new Law -- the Law that is the Spirit -- is poured on the disciples on the Feast of Pentecost while the Jews recalled the giving of the Law at Sinai.
