Third Sunday of Resurrection Homily Help
Third Sunday of Resurrection Season
The Appearance of Jesus to the two disciples of Emmaus
2 Tim 2:8-13
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
Praise be to God always.
I. Biblical Exegesis
[2:8–13] The section begins with a sloganlike summary of Paul’s gospel about Christ (2 Tm 2:8) and concludes with what may be part of an early Christian hymn (2 Tm 2:11b–12a; most exegetes include the rest of 2 Tm 2:12 and all of 2 Tm 2:13 as part of the quotation). The poetic lines suggest that through baptism Christians die spiritually with Christ and hope to live with him and reign with him forever, but the Christian life includes endurance, witness, and even suffering, as the final judgment will show and as Paul’s own case makes clear; while he is imprisoned for preaching the gospel (2 Tm 2:9), his sufferings are helpful to the elect for obtaining the salvation and glory available in Christ (2 Tm 2:10), who will be true to those who are faithful and will disown those who deny him (2 Tm 2:12–13).
II. Catechism of the Catholic Church
437: God called Joseph to “take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”, so that Jesus, “who is called Christ”, should be born of Joseph’s spouse into the messianic lineage of David.(2 Tim. 2:8)
1499: “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.”(97)
97 LG 11 cf. Jc 5,14-16 Rm 8,17 Col 1,24 2Tm 2,11-12 1P 4,13.
III. St. Leo the Great
But as the multitudes went with Jesus to the place of punishment, a certain Simon of Cyrene was found on whom to lay the wood of the cross instead of the Lord; that even by this act might be pre-signified the Gentiles’ faith, to whom the cross of Christ was to be not shame but glory. It was not accidental, therefore, but symbolical and mystical, that while the Jews were raging against Christ, a foreigner was found to share His sufferings, as the Apostle says, “if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:13)
IV. Pope Francis
Saint Paul recommends one thing in particular to his disciple and co-worker Timothy: Remember, remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, whom I proclaim and for whom I suffer (cf. 2Tm 2,8-9). The Apostle can say this because he too remembered Christ, who called him when he was persecuting Christians, who touched him and transformed him by his grace.
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 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?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
This is the Truth. Peace be with you.
Biblical Exegesis
[24:13–35] This episode focuses on the interpretation of scripture by the risen Jesus and the recognition of him in the breaking of the bread. The references to the quotations of scripture and explanation of it (Lk 24:25–27), the kerygmatic proclamation (Lk 24:34), and the liturgical gesture (Lk 24:30) suggest that the episode is primarily catechetical and liturgical rather than apologetic.
II. Didache
Of the Eucharist
9 At the Eucharist, offer the eucharistic prayer in this way. Begin with the chalice: “We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the holy Vine of thy servant David, which thou hast made known to us through thy servant Jesus.
“Glory be to thee, world without end .”
Then over the broken bread: “We give thanks to thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge thou hast made known to us through thy servant Jesus.”
“Glory be to thee, world without end .”
“As this broken bread, once dispersed over the hills, was brought together and became one loaf, so may thy Church be brought together from the ends of the earth into thy kingdom.”
“Thine is the glory and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever.”
No one is to eat or drink of your Eucharist but those who have been baptized in the Name of the Lord; for the Lord’s own saying applies here, “Give not that which is holy unto dogs.”
10 When all have partaken sufficiently, give thanks in these words:
“Thanks be to thee, holy Father, for thy sacred Name which thou hast caused to dwell in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou hast revealed to us through thy servant Jesus.”
“Glory be to thee for ever and ever.”
“Thou, O Almighty Lord, hast created all things for thine own Name’s sake; to all men thou hast given meat and drink to enjoy, that they may give thanks to thee, but to us thou hast graciously given spiritual meat and drink, together with life eternal, through thy Servant. Especially, and above all, do we give thanks to thee for the mightiness of thy power.”
“Glory be to thee for ever and ever.”
“Be mindful of thy Church, O Lord; deliver it from all evil, perfect it in thy love, sanctify it, and gather it from the four winds into the kingdom which thou hast prepared for it.”
“Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever.”
“Let Grace come, and this present world pass away.”
“Hosanna to the God of David.”
“Whosoever is holy, let him approach. Whoso is not, let him repent.”
“Maranatha. Amen.”
(Prophets, however, should be free to give thanks as they please.)
Sample Homily
The faithfulness of God is incarnate in Jesus Christ. He who is the eternal Word of the Father, and the long awaited Son of David, who communicates to us God’s never ending promises, and unfailing love for us, even when we are not faithful in return. God did not leave us alone in our sin and death, but as Paul relates to the whole Church throught Timothy, God desires us to share in the glory of Christ.
The disciples who encounter the Risen Lord on the road are confused as to what all this had meant. They had followed Jesus and now with his Crucifixion all seemed to have been lost, yet they had been told by some of their members that the tomb was empty and the Lord was Risen. At this point the represent all who seek to understand their faith, indeed to have their faith confirmed, their doubt removed. To those who seek the truth, the truth is found. The Risen Lord opens their minds and hearts to understand the Jewish Scriptures that they were trained in, he leads them to a greater understanding of just what the Messiah needed to undergo to fulfill his role as Savior and Lord.
Interestingly, even though he instructs them, they do not realize it is Jesus himself who is their teacher. Then in the “breaking of the bread”, the Eucharist, they come to realize who has been with them, opening their minds and hearts, confirming their faith, so that in the Eucharist their faith comes to full stature, the light is turned on if you will, and they realize through the eyes of faith that Jesus, their Savior and Lord is with them.
What we have before us is one of the earliest proclamations of the power of Word and Sacrament. That there is an unbreakable bond between God’s Word, which is Jesus Christ, imbodied in the Holy Scriptures and the Sacrament of salvation, the Church, the living Body of Christ, that realizes its fullness of faith and salvation in the celebration of the Eucharist.