Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“Were Not Our Hearts On Fire Within Us?”

Our readings today meet us on our journey (sojourn) back to the Father and lead us to the risen Christ.

Our first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14,22-33). It is perhaps the first ever homily on the risen Christ. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, spoke boldly with the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter explained the link between King David of old and the promise God made to raise up an heir who would reign from his throne forever. "One can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ…”

In our Epistle reading (1 Peter 1:17-21). St. Peter encouraged his Gentile Christian audience at a time of suffering and “sojourning” on their journey back to the Father. They were admonished to invoke the Father and act with reverence. “Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct...”

Our Gospel reading (Luke 24:13:35) is the beautiful story of two dejected disciples who encounter Jesus as they leave Jerusalem on the first Easter Sunday. This is a wonderful parallel to the Mass, presided over by Christ Himself. It has the two main elements of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, as they finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

“And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?’"

Every time we attend Mass, Jesus reveals Himself to us through the scriptures as we hear the word of God proclaimed to us. Then, through the persona of the priest, Jesus blesses the bread, says the blessing, breaks it, and gives it to us. How could we not recognize Him as He comes to us each day at Mass. One question we might ask ourselves today is, “Is there anything preventing me from recognizing Jesus as He comes to meet me on the road?

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041926.cfm