Reflection on the readings of the Third Sunday of Easter

by Fr. Joeven Matugas, sx

Easter Greetings to All! Brothers and Sisters, our Lord Jesus Christ is Risen from the dead. At present while our world is devastated and at war against  unseen enemies that claim thousands of lives every day and paralyze every nation’s economy, nothing could stop us proclaiming the Easter Lord. We are not allowed to celebrate the Easter festival inside our churches but as Christians we continue to proclaim and celebrate the Resurrection inside our homes. In the midst of this calamity, we feel that we are journeying towards uncertainty. We don’t know what is going to happen at any hour of the day. We are in a state of fear, insecure and traumatised. Our work has stopped. Transportation movements are controlled and limited. We are under house arrest, while our medical front liners are working hard to save the lives of the victims of the virus. The government officials are seriously doing their best in order to contain the virus and normalize the situation. Everyone is affected and in trouble. Every day we are disturbed by the increasing numbers of infected people and deaths in the countries highly affected by this so called Covid -19. The Gospel today is about the two disciples escaping to a village, while talking about the events that led JESUS, - who they believed WOULD set Israel free - to die on the cross. These two disciples were deeply troubled. Their faces downcast. Their hearts were heavy. Their dreams shattered. They were deeply affected by the death of Jesus. They did not have any clear direction as they walked along. Until such a moment that the Easter Lord appeared to them and - unrecognised - walked by their side and joined their conversation. While they were at table, Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them. Then, they opened their eyes and recognized that He is the Lord, Risen. He touched their hearts. As the story unfolds, the two disciples went back to Jerusalem and declared to their companions that "He is risen". The Lord is risen and has appeared to them”. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher of Papal Household) said, “how can we jump for joy, to announce the RESURRECTION ourselves, when the world is shaken and disturbed, when nations are in turmoil and kingdoms totter? He said, the point to be taken is: Christ has Risen. Nothing could have stopped this being Easter again this year, nothing will stop this being Easter a year from now, and so on until he returns. Nothing can stop the Church from repeating at every Mass: ‘We proclaim your death O Lord, we proclaim your resurrection, until you come in glory’”. (Cantalamessa, Mystery of Easter, 2004). The Risen Christ is journeying with us towards an uncertain and unforeseen future. He continues to accompany us in our journey. He opened our eyes to His message of truth. He is always beside us listening to our voices, listening to our conversation. It is only for us to open our eyes and recognize Him. And put our trust in Him. This is the Faith in the Risen Lord, if we are able to understand this troubled time with hope and confidence. Because the Lord has already redeemed us of our pains and miseries by his death on the cross and by the glory of His resurrection.