36 They were still talking about it when — there he was, standing among them! 37 Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But he said to them, “Why are you so upset? Why are these doubts welling up inside you? 39 Look at my hands and my feet — it is I, myself! Touch me and see — a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I do.” 40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 While they were still unable to believe it for joy and stood there dumbfounded, he said to them, “Have you something here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 which he took and ate in their presence.
44 Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Tanakh, 46 telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; 47 and in his name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Yerushalayim. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
3rd Sunday of EasterHe opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45)
We all know what it feels like when we finally understand something we have previously doubted or haven’t fully grasped. It’s like having a little light go on in our heads. When Jesus opened the minds of his disciples, he was showing them that everything was going to be all right. He had risen from the dead, and he was in control. There was nothing to be afraid of.
So what exactly did Jesus tell them? It’s anybody’s guess. All Luke tells us is that Jesus showed them how the Scriptures were fulfilled through him. Perhaps he walked them through the story of Adam and Eve. Maybe he talked about the events that pointed to his mission: about Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac; about Moses, the Passover lamb, and the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery; or about the rite of atonement in the Book of Leviticus.
Maybe Jesus spoke about the suffering servant who was pierced for our transgressions(Isaiah 53:5). Or maybe he talked about the words of the prophet Zechariah, who said that God will pour out his Spirit as his people look on one whom they have pierced and “mourn for him as one mourns for an only child” (Zechariah 12:10). Whatever he said, Jesus filled them all with joy and deepened their faith. Each story brought them more clarity about God’s plan.
Likewise, Jesus wants to open our minds. He wants to tell us that the feast we celebrated two weeks ago is the fulfillment of God’s plan for his people—of his plan for each of us. It was foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Christ. And one day, when he comes again, we will see the completion of this plan as sin and suffering are done away with forever.
Today at Mass, ask Jesus to open your eyes so that you can see this magnificent plan more clearly. Then let what you see propel your faith to a new level, just as it did for the disciples two thousand years ago.
“Open my eyes, Lord, to your glorious plans.” Amen!
Acts 3:13 The God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, the God of our fathers,[a] has glorified his servant Yeshua — the same Yeshua you handed over and disowned before Pilate, even after he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the holy and innocent one, and instead asked for the reprieve of a murderer! 15 You killed the author of life!
“But God has raised him from the dead! Of this we are witnesses.[Footnotes:
Acts 3:13 Exodus 3:6, 15]
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did not understand the significance of what you were doing; neither did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die.
19 “Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased;
Psalm 4:2 (1) O God, my vindicator!
Answer me when I call!
When I was distressed, you set me free;
now have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
4 (3) Understand that Adonai sets apart
the godly person for himself;
Adonai will hear when I call to him.
7 (6) Many ask, “Who can show us some good?”
Adonai, lift the light of your face over us!
8 (7) You have filled my heart with more joy
than all their grain and new wine.
9 (8) I will lie down and sleep in peace;
for, Adonai, you alone make me live securely.
1 John 2:1 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
2. The responsorial psalm ends with these words, “As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling.” How does this Scripture relate to your own experience? How can you make this a greater reality in your life?
3. The second reading reminds us that “Jesus Christ, the righteous one” is our “Advocate with the Father” and the “expiation for our sins.” These words continue the theme of the first reading, that is, turning to Christ and relying on him to overcome sin. What examples do you have of Christ freeing you from sin during these holy seasons of Lent and Easter? If you can’t think of any examples, what obstacles may be getting in the way?
4. In the Gospel, the two disciples recounted how Jesus “was made known to them in the breaking of bread,” that is, the Eucharistic meal. What are some ways Jesus has made himself known to you during Mass, as you listen to him in the Scriptures and receive him in the Eucharist? How important is this to you? What additional steps can you take before and during Mass to prepare yourself to receive Christ in a deeper way into your life?
5. The meditation describes how Jesus “wants to open our minds’ so that we can know “his plan for each of us.” It ends with these words: “Today at Mass, ask Jesus to open your eyes so that you can see this magnificent plan more clearly. Then let what you see propel your faith to a new level, just as it did for the disciples two thousand years ago.”
6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to a deeper understanding of his “glorious plans” for your life. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, “I know him,” but isn’t obeying his commands is a liar — the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Acts 3:13 The God of Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, the God of our fathers,[a] has glorified his servant Yeshua — the same Yeshua you handed over and disowned before Pilate, even after he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the holy and innocent one, and instead asked for the reprieve of a murderer! 15 You killed the author of life!
“But God has raised him from the dead! Of this we are witnesses.[Footnotes:
Acts 3:13 Exodus 3:6, 15]
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did not understand the significance of what you were doing; neither did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had announced in advance, when he spoke through all the prophets, namely, that his Messiah was to die.
19 “Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased;
Psalm 4:2 (1) O God, my vindicator!
Answer me when I call!
When I was distressed, you set me free;
now have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
4 (3) Understand that Adonai sets apart
the godly person for himself;
Adonai will hear when I call to him.
7 (6) Many ask, “Who can show us some good?”
Adonai, lift the light of your face over us!
8 (7) You have filled my heart with more joy
than all their grain and new wine.
9 (8) I will lie down and sleep in peace;
for, Adonai, you alone make me live securely.
1 John 2:1 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.
3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, “I know him,” but isn’t obeying his commands is a liar — the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him.
Luke 24:35 Then the two told what had happened on the road and how he had become known to them in the breaking of the matzah.
36 They were still talking about it when — there he was, standing among them! 37 Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But he said to them, “Why are you so upset? Why are these doubts welling up inside you? 39 Look at my hands and my feet — it is I, myself! Touch me and see — a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I do.” 40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 While they were still unable to believe it for joy and stood there dumbfounded, he said to them, “Have you something here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 which he took and ate in their presence.
44 Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Tanakh, 46 telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; 47 and in his name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Yerushalayim. 48 You are witnesses of these things.]
1. In the first reading, St. Peter tells the people that they “acted out of ignorance” when they handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate to be put to death. He goes on to tell them to “Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” In what ways has this Lenten and Easter season opened your eyes more deeply to the truth of Jesus’ love for you, the work of his cross and resurrection, and the forgiveness of your sins? How has this deepened your own ongoing conversion and your relationship with him? What steps can you take to go even deeper by turning to Christ more often during the day?2. The responsorial psalm ends with these words, “As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling.” How does this Scripture relate to your own experience? How can you make this a greater reality in your life?
3. The second reading reminds us that “Jesus Christ, the righteous one” is our “Advocate with the Father” and the “expiation for our sins.” These words continue the theme of the first reading, that is, turning to Christ and relying on him to overcome sin. What examples do you have of Christ freeing you from sin during these holy seasons of Lent and Easter? If you can’t think of any examples, what obstacles may be getting in the way?
4. In the Gospel, the two disciples recounted how Jesus “was made known to them in the breaking of bread,” that is, the Eucharistic meal. What are some ways Jesus has made himself known to you during Mass, as you listen to him in the Scriptures and receive him in the Eucharist? How important is this to you? What additional steps can you take before and during Mass to prepare yourself to receive Christ in a deeper way into your life?
5. The meditation describes how Jesus “wants to open our minds’ so that we can know “his plan for each of us.” It ends with these words: “Today at Mass, ask Jesus to open your eyes so that you can see this magnificent plan more clearly. Then let what you see propel your faith to a new level, just as it did for the disciples two thousand years ago.”
6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes to a deeper understanding of his “glorious plans” for your life. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Open my eyes, Lord, to your glorious plans.” Amen!
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