14 Apr
Sun
3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Ps. 15:1-2a,5,7-8, 9-10,11
1 Pt. 1:17-21
Lk. 24:13-35
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Two disciples with shattered dreams and hope are on the road to Emmaus. But the Risen Lord Jesus is present to them and walks with them. Something prevented them from recognising Him. Later at the 'breaking of bread' their eyes were opened and they recognised Him, but He had vanished from their sight (24:31) and yet He remains - "were not our hearts burning inside us as He talked to us . . ." It is the eyes of faith, enlightened by Scriptures that recognise the Risen Jesus. Hearing about the Resurrection from others (24:22-24) is not enough. A disciple needs personal relationship and companionship with Jesus. Yes, we need Jesus to walk with us and to open the Scriptures for Him. It is in the experience of the Eucharist that the Scriptures reveal their fullest meaning.

The story of the road to Emmaus is a story of every Christian. It is our journey towards Jesus with all our doubts and fears, that we encounter Jesus especially in the Eucharist, who alone will open our 'eyes' and inflame our hearts. When our eyes of faith are opened we too are to go forth and proclaim that Jesus has risen and is still alive.



O God, open our 'eyes' to see You in the Eucharist and open our hearts to feel and accept Your love daily. Amen.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
Elaboration

- END -









P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values

The family as a domestic Church and cradle of life is the appropriate setting in which faith can increase. It is here that faith can be nourished through an attitude of appreciation of the treasure which parents are called on to transmit to their children through personal words and testimonies of life. This attitude must then be nourished with a sense of wonder and hope and it must be contemplated as Mary contemplated it in the face of the Word she received and the events of her life.

This deep sense of faith helps parents and their children to fulfil the vocation received from God. Parents, teaching their children and bearing witness to the true sense of suffering and dying, lead the young to be more attentive to all forms of suffering. They, thus develop positive attitudes of assistance and sharing with others, especially with weaker people like the sick and the aged. This life of faith must be continually nourished through individual and family prayer.

On the strength of this foundation the family becomes a place for training in justice, self-control, temperance, respect for the personal dignity of each individual and the service of the poor and needy.




- END -