Third Sunday of Easter
The Gospel reading is taken from the story of Saint Luke (Lk 24, 35-48), who tells us what happened immediately after the return, from Emmaus, of the two disciples who met Jesus on the road, who initially could not recognize it until the moment of “breaking the bread” (see: Luke 24, 35).
While both disciples were in the company of the apostles in the ‘Cenacle’, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst and greeted them with peace. Everyone present was filled with fear. Then Jesus says: “Do not be afraid, it is I,” calling his disciples to trust and believe: “Look at my hands and my feet. “It’s me in person.” Just like that, the stupor began to turn into joy. “Do you have anything to eat here?” Jesus asked, as if confirming that he was there, with them, in body and spirit. The cruel moment of crucifixion is behind us and the friends have been reunited. Jesus will return to the Scriptures to remember how the Messiah had to suffer, even death, and then come back to life for all the prophecies to be fulfilled. At that moment, finally, the disciples understood what the Scripture was talking about. Then, Jesus asks them to announce this “in his name” to all nations, calling for conversion for “the forgiveness of sins.”