Let Jesus Accompany You: Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Easter

The 3rd Sunday of Easter gives us the account of Jesus accompanying two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus overhears them talking about the recent events that took place and acts as if he wanted to be kept up to speed.

What Cleophas and his companion are unaware of is that Jesus was in his midst. Like how he appeared to his apostles, he had to prepare his followers to continue his mission.

Think of it as a track meet. In some events, there are four runners that must run either a 100, 200, 400, or even 800 meters. Every time a runner completes his or her leg of the race, they would pass on the baton to the next runner to help the team go further and further to eventually winning it all.

Jesus does these appearances to invite, explain, and exhort.

First, the first step of his mission was to invite people to follow him. We get invitations to weddings, graduations, birthday festivities, and even other life events. His invitation was rejected by many. However, it was accepted by a brave few. In the gospel, he had to reveal that he was himself when he requested food and invited them to touch his wounds. He did these to ensure that he was no ghost or phantom. Further, he invites us to let go of our sorrows, fears, grief, doubts, and to believe.

Second, he explained many times why he had to go through his passion and death. The groundwork was laid out from Moses to John the Baptist and the ancient prophets that came in between. They revealed the boundless love of the father for all of humanity. The new covenant was prepared by the old one that can be traced back to Abraham. When Jesus explains, he teaches. In the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles witness to Jesus’ resurrection and, like Jesus himself, teach from the scriptures about His mission and its saving effects.

Third, he exhorts. He does it by asking his disciples to be witnesses. When Jesus ascends into heave, he tells them to “Go and make disciples.” The Acts of the Apostles, which will be heard during the first reading on Sundays of the Easter season, tells us how far the message was spread, beginning with Jerusalem and ending in Rome. Today, his mission lives in every faithful Catholic that are going above and beyond the call of duty.

St. Paul reminds us, “nothing can separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (cf. Romans 8:39). This is what we are seeing in his Paschal Mystery.

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, let us accept his invitation to strengthen our faith, grow in understanding of God’s salvific plan, and share the good news to others.

Christ has risen! He is risen indeed.