Reading I: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm: 16
Reading II: 1 Pt 1:17-21
Gospel: Lk 24:13-35
I have a friend whose husband is a musician and a composer. He loved the compositions of famous musicians that were based upon the Liturgy of the Eucharist. He wanted to compose one himself.
However, not being Catholic, he did not understand the Mass so he
asked me for some materials which might help him. After gathering up some books and materials I gave them to him.
After about a month, he returned the books to me and gave me a precious gift of the knowledge that he acquired — which truly got down to the essence of the Mass. He summarized his understanding by saying: “It is like going to visit a friend. You communicate with one another for a while, and then share something to eat.”
In today’s Gospel, we see that same basic story. Jesus joins the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, and they talk for a while about what is going on in their lives. They are all upset about the crucifixion of Jesus. He had been their hope, and seemingly to them, Jesus was unable to even save Himself.
Jesus quotes the prophets, explaining that it was necessary for Him to suffer before entering into His glory. Having had their hearts healed by the presence and words of Jesus, they invite him to remain with them for the night.
While sharing a meal with them, Jesus took the bread, blessed it,
broke it, and gave it to them. Suddenly, “they recognized Him, but he vanished from their sight.” They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” The disciples then returned to Jerusalem and told the apostles that they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
The liturgy of the Mass has been compared to a diamond ring.
Sometimes it is set in a plain band and other times in a highly
decorated one. The essence is the diamond. Sometimes we have a rather quiet liturgy and other times it is adorned with glorious music, decorations, and singing. However, the essence always
remains the same.
Let us thank the Lord for His wonderful gifts to us in His presence, His Word in Scripture, His renewed sacrifice in the breaking of the Bread, and His giving Himself to us in the Holy Eucharist. Praise the Lord! Praise His Holy Name!!!
Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...
Emmaus
Tengo un amigo cuyo marido es músico y compositor. Amaba las composiciones de músicos famosos que se basaban en la Liturgia de la Eucaristía. Quería componer uno mismo. Sin embargo, al no ser católico, no entendió la misa para que él Me pidió algunos materiales que pudieran ayudarle. Después de recoger algunos libros y materiales que les di.
Después de aproximadamente un mes, me devolvió los libros y me dio un regalo precioso del conocimiento que él adquirió - que realmente llegó a la esencia de la misa. Él resumió su entendimiento diciendo: “Es como ir a visitar un amigo. Comunicáis unos con otros durante un tiempo y luego comparteos algo para comer.”
En el Evangelio de hoy, vemos esa misma historia básica. Jesús se une a los dos discípulos en su camino a Emaús, y ellos hablan por un tiempo sobre lo que está pasando en sus vidas. Todos están molestos por la crucifixión de Jesús. Había sido su esperanza, y aparentemente para ellos, Jesús era incapaz de siquiera salvar a sí mismo.
Jesús cita a los profetas, explicando que era necesario que sufriera antes de entrar en su gloria. Habiendo tenido sus corazones curados por la presencia y las palabras de Jesús, lo invitan a permanecer con ellos por la noche.
Mientras compartían una comida con ellos, Jesús tomó el pan, lo bendijo, Lo rompió y se lo dio. De repente, “Ellos lo reconocieron, pero él desapareció de su vista”. Se dijeron unos a otros: “¿No ardían nuestros corazones en nosotros mientras nos hablaba en el camino y nos abrían las Escrituras?” Entonces los discípulos volvieron a Jerusalén y les dijo a los apóstoles que habían reconocido a Jesús en la el pan.
La liturgia de la Misa ha sido comparada con un anillo de diamantes. A veces se establece en una banda sencilla y otras veces en un Decorado uno. La esencia es el diamante. A veces tenemos una liturgia bastante tranquila y otras veces está adornada con música gloriosa, decoraciones y cantos. Sin embargo, la esencia siempre sigue siendo el mismo.
Demos gracias al Señor por sus maravillosos dones para nosotros en Su presencia, Su Palabra en la Escritura, Su renovado sacrificio en la fracción del Pan y Su entrega a nosotros en la Sagrada Eucaristía. ¡Alabado sea el Señor! ¡Alabado sea Su Santo Nombre !!!
What amazing insight your friend’s husband gleaned from the materials you gave him! He was obviously very open to understanding the heart of the Mass to have arrived at such a simple, concise, and profound explanation. I also like the analogy of the Mass and the diamond ring. That is a wonderful way to describe the Mass and Eucharist to a non-Catholic. Thank you for sharing these two stories with us.
ReplyDeleteI am filled with warmth at the image of Jesus walking alongside the two disciples whose hearts are burdened with loss and despair. What believer would not long to experience the nurturing Presence of Jesus as they wandered through their darkest hour? Often Jesus’ love comes through another person, sometimes a stranger, who offers us encouraging words that restore us to wholeness when we are feeling broken, or who reminds us of God’s love when we are feeling unlovable. We know this person is a God-send because their words cause life to stir in us once more. Cleopas and his fellow traveler felt their hearts burning within them as Jesus talked with them along the road to Emmaus.
As soon as the disciples recognized Jesus, “he vanished from their sight.” Henri Nouwen, in his book, “With Burning Hearts, A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life,” writes, “Jesus no longer sits across the table from them as the stranger, the guest, the friend with whom they can speak and from they can receive good counsel. He has become one with them. He has given them his own Spirit of Love. Their companion on the journey has become the companion of their souls.”
Today’s Gospel story follows the order of the celebration of the Eucharist: “coming together in our brokenness before God, hearing the Word, profession of our faith, offering the meal, and going forth to renew the face of the earth.” Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus passed through all these stages so, too, our participation in the Eucharist mirrors each one.
“From mourning to discernment, from invitation to intimacy, and finally from community to the charge to go forth and witness,” the road to Emmaus becomes our story as we journey through life awakening to Christ’s presence within us and others as we celebrate Eucharist together.
Pat C, ASBS
Yes. The fact that the essence of the liturgy always remains the same is certainly an extremely important consideration.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpts are from a homily delivered by Pope Francis:
"What strikes us is the strength of Peter and the other apostles. In response to the order to be silent, no longer teach in the name of Jesus, no longer proclaim his message, they respond clearly: "We must obey God rather than men" and they remain undeterred even when flogged, ill-treated and imprisoned. Peter and the apostles proclaim courageously, fearlessly, what they have received: the Gospel of Jesus. And we? Are we capable of bringing the word of God into the environment in which we live? Do we know how to speak of Christ, of what he represents for us, in our families, among the people who form our daily lives? Faith is born from listening and is strengthened by proclamation."
"Each day the Lord calls us to follow him with courage and fidelity; he has made us the great gift of choosing us as his disciples; he invites us to proclaim him with joy as the Risen One, but he asks us to do so by word and by the witness of our lives, in daily life. The Lord is the only God of our lives and he invites us to strip ourselves of our many idols and to worship him alone, to proclaim, to witness, to adore. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help us on our journey and intercede for us. Amen.
Homily of Pope Francis
Basilica of St. Paul
Outside-the-Walls
April 14, 2013