Thursday, March 31, 2016

Homily: Easter Thursday 2016 - Recounting our encounter with Christ



The gospel readings during the week after Easter unpack the tremendous event of Jesus’ resurrection particularly from the perspective of how the disciples experienced that event.  What must it have been like for the disciples to encounter the Jesus after his cruel death on the cross?

Today’s reading follows immediately after the encounter with Jesus by the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Jesus came to them in their sorrow, walked with them, and made himself known to them. Remember, on the road to Emmaus, they recognized Jesus “in the breaking of the bread” and then Jesus he showed them how the Scriptures, beginning with Moses and the prophets pointed to Him.
Jesus being made known in the “breaking of bread” and reading and interpreting of Scriptures—sounds a lot like what we do at Mass, doesn’t it? We encounter Jesus and recognize Jesus in Word and Sacrament.

Now, they’ve returned to Jerusalem to share these experiences with the other disciples, and Jesus becomes present in their midst. 

One of the practices engaged in by the neophytes during the Easter Season is called mystagogy.  Those newly initiated into the Church at Easter recount how they experienced Jesus in the celebration of Word and Sacrament at the Easter Vigil.  They recount how the powerful symbols of the Easter Vigil—the fire, the singing, the water, the oil, the rituals, helped them to experience the presence of Jesus, and what that means for them.  This practice of mystagogy help them to more deeply grasp what happened to them at Easter, what God is doing with them and in them now. This strengthens them as they begin to walk in the newness of life of the Christian faith, and also witnesses to the rest of the Church.

As the disciples recounted their experience of the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Emmaus to the disciples of Jerusalem, he again became present, and helped to deepen their faith, remove their fears, and prepare them for spreading the Good News.

Sharing our faith is not meant to be limited to what we do here in the Church.  What we do here in the Church, celebrating Word and Sacrament, is meant to prepare us for sharing the Gospel out in the world: with unbelievers and those struggling in their faith.

We, like the disciples of old, are meant to share our faith with great joy with others, and when that happens, Jesus can become present to them, and can set them on the road to deepening their faith, removing their fears, leading them away from sin.

The best way to grow in faith, is to share the faith; when we read the scriptures we are meant to discuss them with others, and when that happens our minds are made more fully open to them. When we receive a sacrament, that experience is meant to be shared with others, and when we do that, our hearts are made more fully open to how God is working.  Even as we encounter Jesus in the ordinary events of our lives, that is meant to be shared with joy. 


May each of us, leave Mass today with a greater sense of mission and conviction for spreading the good news of our encounter with the Lord Jesus in Word and Sacrament for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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