Paschal mystery

The season of Easter continues as we celebrate the Third and Fourth  Sundays. The path to Pentecost follows the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery understood as Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. The sacred readings offer three powerful testimonies of guidance, confidence and strength for our prayer and meditation. 
Know for certain (Acts 2:14, 22-33) 
In Chapter Two of Acts of the Apostles, we see St. Peter confidently standing in front of a crowd who are mocking him and the other apostles. Jesus’ closest followers had just experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. Fortified by this grace they stepped out into the street and loudly proclaimed the works of Jesus. They were entirely strengthened by the Holy Spirit, so much so they held nothing back.  St. Peter gave a bold testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection, recounting how many present before him were, themselves, amazed at the “deeds, wonders and signs” given by Jesus, only to turn on Him in the crucifixion. Many were so taken aback by St. Peter’s profession of faith and witness of Jesus they asked him, “What are we to do?” He invited them to repentance and baptism in the name of the Trinity. As a result, 3,000 that day gave themselves to the Lord. Three thousand in ONE day!  

 Paragraph 638 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community, handed on, and preached, ‘Christ is risen from the dead! Dying He conquered death; to the dead He has given life.’ ” Jesus restores us to new life in the Father. We know this for certain.   
Walking with Jesus (Lk 24:13-35) 
St. Luke’s Gospel describes one of the most incredible encounters with the resurrected Lord. Imagine being a close disciple of Jesus, walking seven miles from Jerusalem to a village known as Emmaus and discussing with another disciple the account of the women who saw the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord. They were excited and astounded at the same time. Along the journey a stranger joins them, who seemingly knows nothing of the past three days, asking, “What sort of things?”  
 They give an overview, questioning their faith in the long-awaited Messiah. The stranger then explains how “this Jesus” fulfilled every prophecy and proclamation handed down according to the Jewish faith of the Christ. He then goes on to break open the word of God in a way like no other as they continued their journey.
Upon invitation, the two welcomed the stranger into their home for a meal. Their eyes were opened, as the stranger blessed, broke, and shared the bread. The stranger revealed His true identity; “it is the Lord!” the resurrected Jesus, through the breaking of the bread. He was veiled in his glorified state, yet fully recognizable in the breaking of the bread, the glorified Messiah! He then vanished.
Their eyes were opened as they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” Filled with joy and zeal, the two disciples ran all the way back to Jerusalem, some seven miles in the dark, without fear, to tell the apostles who were gathered in the Upper Room the good news, as “the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.” 
Eucharist: Encountering Jesus 
The encounter of the two disciples with Jesus on the road to Emmaus prefigures the Mass. The Liturgy of the Word invites us to encounter Jesus, the Incarnate word of God, connecting the Old Testament with the New Testament, with the epistle serving as a bridge. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the most perfect earthly encounter with Jesus, as we partake in his Paschal Mystery, that being his passion, death and resurrection. We know FOR CERTAIN God is with us, in the person of Jesus who gives his body, blood, soul and divinity by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism teaches, “The liturgy of the word and liturgy of the Eucharist together form ‘one single act of worship: the Eucharistic table set for us is the table both of the Word of God and of the Body of the Lord’ ” (CCC 1346). 
Good Shepherd Sunday (Jn 10:1-10) 
During the Fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear one of the seven “I Ams” given in the Gospel of St. John. Shepherds during the time of Jesus built gates made of stone to protect the sheep. Jesus described himself as the gatekeeper of the fold. King David’s most recognized Psalm 23 proclaims, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Jesus gave his life for his flock. St. Thomas Aquinas, in a homily given on the Second Sunday of Easter explains, “There are three reasons as to why Christ is called the good shepherd: (1) to defend the sheep from lions, wolves, the devil; (2) to lead and feed them in good pastures with scriptural grace and glory; and (3) to restore those who are wandering, leaving behind the ninety-nine to rescue the lost one.” 
To reflect 
When do I hear the call of our Good Shepherd, relying upon His love to protect us from all harm? Am I nourished by the Word of God, through reading, listening and meditating on the Bible, as well as gathering my family and friends for Sunday Mass to be nourished by His Word and by Eucharist? How am I encouraging those who are away from the flock to come back home? During this Easter season, may we, filled with the Holy Spirit and confidentially proclaim, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! 

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.