April 18 - 3rd Sunday of Easter

(Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 Jn 2:1–5a; Lk 24:35–48)

Just prior to this week’s Gospel reading, three women – Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James – along with unspecified “others” have gone to the tomb and been told by angels that Jesus has been raised. They rush to report this good news to the disciples, only to be met with disbelief. Again, two disciples bound for Emmaus met with Jesus himself, but don’t recognize him - even after He explains all of Gospel history - until He breaks bread with them. Finally, Jesus shows up in the locked room with the disciples – and they think they’re seeing a ghost. Even with knowing Jesus personally, and seeing all the wonderful works he has performed, they don’t fully accept His resurrection until He “opens their minds.” We shouldn’t be too hard on the disciples, since they were dealing with things never experienced before. We, on the other hand, have heard the story over and over, but do we ourselves really recognize Christ in the Mass, or in our daily lives? Amanda Gorman’s beautiful inauguration poem ends with the lines: “For there is always light / if only we're brave enough to see it. / If only we're brave enough to be it.” We are called each day to see the light of Christ, and to be the light of Christ in this world.

• First the women, and then the two disciples, bore witness to Jesus’s return- even though they probably knew that they would not be believed. Still, the news was so wonderful that they could not keep it to themselves. We are called to bear witness to our faith by being the face of Christ to those around us. How have you been a witness to your faith this week?
• Take some time to reflect on the moments in your life that you did not recognize Jesus, just as the disciples did not. What kept you from seeing Him?
• During which parts of Mass do you find yourself most easily distracted? What can you do to deepen your experience and sharpen your focus to participate more fully?