3rd
Sunday of Easter, Year A – April 19, 2026
Acts
2:14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35
Theme:
The Risen Lord is the Motivation of our Christian Faith
A.
A Brief Exegetical Analysis of Lk
24:13-35
- Historical
and Literary Contexts
The
story of Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus is unique to Luke. It is the
second of the five stories in Luke’s resurrection narrative section (24:1-53).
It is preceded by the account of the women at the empty tomb (24:1-12) and
followed by Jesus’ appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem (24:36-43), Jesus’
final instructions (24:44-49), and the Ascension (24:50-53). Luke places all of
Jesus’ appearances in and around Jerusalem and describes them as having
occurred on Easter Sunday. In our passage, as in this entire section of the
resurrection narrative, Luke aims to inform his readers that Jesus’ Passion,
Death, and Resurrection fulfilled Old Testament promises and Jewish hopes.[1]
Luke
narrates this story in both catechetical and liturgical forms. Vv. 13-16 can be
viewed as an introduction, while vv. 33-35 serve as a conclusion. The body of
the text can be structured into two movements based on the two topics developed
in this passage: The interpretation of the Scriptures (vv. 17-27) and the
breaking of the bread (vv. 28-32).
- Detailed
Analysis
Vv.
13-16. Emmaus is likely the hometown of these two disciples. They lived in
Jerusalem because they followed Jesus. Now that Jesus is dead, everything seems
finished; there is no longer any motivation or reason for them to stay in
Jerusalem. Disappointed, sad, and confused, they are on their way back to
Emmaus to resume their former lives. Jesus appears to them, but they do not
recognize him. One of these disciples, Cleopas, is not well known among Jesus’
disciples. Some Bible scholars suggest that he might be the same person as
Klopas mentioned in John’s Gospel, whose wife, Mary, stood by the cross of
Jesus (see Jn 19:25) because these two names, Cleopas and Klopas, are similar.
If this is the case, then the unnamed second disciple of Emmaus could be his
wife, Mary. The exact location of Emmaus, seven miles (sixty stadia) from
Jerusalem, is disputed. Some biblical scholars believe that this Emmaus could
be the traditional site at “Amwas” on the Jerusalem-Jaffa road or the village
of el-Qubeibeh. However, the former place is twenty miles away, and the latter
is eight miles from Jerusalem, not seven miles, as Luke mentions.[2]
Vv.
17-27. These two disciples discuss Jesus’ Passion and Death. Jesus joins their
conversation with a question: “What are you discussing as you walk along?” His
question seems bizarre to them because everyone in Jerusalem knows what
happened to Jesus. They tell him the whole story, revealing their disbelief in
Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus interprets the Scriptures that refer to him and
helps them understand that his Suffering, Death, and Resurrection fulfilled Old
Testament promises (vv. 25-27).
Vv.
28-32. The Scriptures that Jesus shared effectively prompted them to invite him
to stay with them that night. The Breaking of the Bread is the second step in
Jesus' plan to help these disciples believe in his Resurrection. Jesus’ actions
over the bread, “he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to
them,” are similar to the actions he employed over the bread in the Last Supper
(see Lk 22:19). This signifies that Jesus shares the Eucharistic Bread with
these two disciples. Through these two methods, the Interpretation of the
Scriptures and the Breaking of the Bread, these two disciples recognize Jesus
and believe in his Resurrection.
Vv.
33-35. These two disciples were heading to Emmaus to return to their former
lives because they were disappointed by the death of their Master, Jesus. Now,
believing that Jesus is alive, their motivation for discipleship is
reactivated. Consequently, they return to Jerusalem to continue their
discipleship.
- Synthesis
These
two disciples were on the road, returning to their home village of Emmaus to
resume their former lives because Jesus, whom they had followed in Jerusalem,
had died, and there was no longer motivation to stay there. Jesus appeared to
them, but they did not recognize him. He employed two methods to open their
spiritual eyes and help them believe in his Resurrection. In the first method,
Jesus interpreted the Scriptures that referred to him, teaching them that his
Suffering, Death, and Resurrection fulfilled Old Testament promises. In the
second method, Jesus shared with them the Eucharistic Bread, “his Body.” These
two methods enabled the disciples to recognize him and believe in his
Resurrection. As a result of their belief, they decided to return to Jerusalem
and continue their discipleship.
B. Pastoral
Implications
- Liturgical
Context
What
should motivate our discipleship? Some believers' motivations for being active
Christians come from their loved ones, their ministries in the Church, or
certain circumstances. Once they lose these motivations, they leave the Church
or stop praying to God. Today’s Bible readings teach us that Jesus’
Resurrection should motivate and inspire our discipleship, just as it did for
the disciples of Emmaus after they recognized Jesus (Gospel) and for Peter in
our first and second readings.
- What
the Church Teaches Us Today
In
the Gospel, the disappointed disciples of Emmaus were on the road returning to
their village when Jesus appeared to them. Leaving Jerusalem indicates they
have abandoned discipleship, as they believe Jesus, their motivation, is no
longer alive and that everything seems finished. Returning to Emmaus signifies
a return to their former lives. Many Christians act like these two disciples
when facing suffering. We abandon our Christian faith and revert to our
previous lives without Jesus. Our Holy Mother Church encourages us to recognize
the presence of Jesus, who always wants to join us in our daily struggles, just
as he did with these two disciples.
The
two methods Jesus employed with these two disciples, which enabled them to
recognize him and believe in his Resurrection, constitute the two parts of our
liturgy of the Mass. In the first method, Jesus interpreted the Scriptures for
these disciples, helping them realize that his Suffering, Death, and
Resurrection fulfill Old Testament promises. Peter also used this method in our
first reading. He referred to David in the Old Testament and quoted him when he
called his audience to believe in Jesus’ Resurrection. Likewise, at each Mass
we attend, we first listen to Jesus, who, through the lay and ordained
ministers, reads and interprets the Word of God for us. In the second method,
Jesus shared the Eucharistic Bread with these disciples. He does the same with
us in the second part of the Mass. He shares with us his Body and Blood in Holy
Communion. These two parts of the Mass, the celebration of the Word of God and
the celebration of the Eucharist, open our spiritual eyes and enable us to
believe that our Lord is alive.
As
a result of their belief, these two disciples returned to Jerusalem and
continued their discipleship. The Church calls us to do the same. Each Mass we
attend transforms us and makes us pursue our discipleship with courage and
faith, conducting ourselves with reverence during our earthly sojourning, as
Peter exhorts us in our second reading (see 1 Pt 1:17). Amen.
Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Jackson, MS
&
SVD-USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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