Scripture Reading Reflection
by Fr. Andrew Kelly
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER – MAY 4, 2014
The risen Jesus’ great Easter gift is that the risen Jesus always walks with believing communities and individuals, in all times and events, maybe even though nobody is necessarily paying attention.
This is why the Scriptures play such an important role in believers’ lives. Whether the Scriptures are being listened to in community, or the individual is sitting alone in stillness and silence listening, the Scriptures become the risen Jesus’ voice instructing and assuring everyone that the risen Jesus never abandons and is always walking alongside, especially in the darkest of dark moments that eventually confront every human life.
This is the beauty of Sunday’s Easter Gospel (Luke 24:13-31). Two disciples are running away from disaster and disappointment. Gradually the disciples discover that the risen Jesus is running with them, opening their minds and hearts to the reality of Jesus’ abiding risen presence.
Would it not be gloriously wonderful if all anyone could proclaim in response to Jesus’ risen presence in the Scriptures is what the disciples proclaimed in Sunday’s Easter Gospel: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
