April 14, 2024 – 3rd Sunday of Easter

Things to talk about:

• Does Jesus’ greeting, “Peace be with you,” sound familiar? Where have you heard this greeting?
• Why did Jesus ask the disciples to look at his hands and his feet?
• What point is Luke trying to make be describing in detail Jesus eating the fish among his disciples?
• How have you experienced a feeling of community in your parish?
• What does receiving the Eucharist mean to you?
• How can you testify to the love and peace of Christ in the ways you speak and act toward others at home? At school? At your activities? At work?

Things to do:

• In this Gospel, the disciples were “incredulous for joy.” Playgrounds bring great joy to children. Celebrate the joy of the season at a playground in your favorite park or a new park, trail or waterfall that you’ve always wanted to visit.
• Outside the Easter season, the first reading is typically from the Old Testament. During the Easter season, the first reading is from which book in the New Testament? (Click the link for Luke above)
• Jesus was made known to them in “the breaking of the bread.” As a family make bread and read the Gospel at your family meal.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Listen and pray for strength, courage and creativity to Testify to Love.

Name those who need our prayers. Close with the Sign of the Cross.

Catholic Insights

In this Gospel, the disciples were initially startled and terrified at Jesus’ appearance, but became “incredulous for joy” as they discovered it was Jesus really with them.  Jesus’ resurrected body was different from his earthly body  — he appeared and vanished instantly, yet he had flesh and bones and he ate food. When we speak of our own resurrection, we don’t know what our glorified bodies will look like but the Gospel reminds us that all that makes us truly ourselves in this world will live on into eternal life.

The scene in this Gospel also reminds us that the sharing of a meal is crucial in building any community, especially the Church. We gather each Sunday to share the Eucharist and it is an opportunity to grown in love for one another and Christ.

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells his Apostles that they are witnesses, they have an understanding of the events; they have been with Jesus and heard his preaching, teaching and seen him healing others. The Apostles understand, as we do, that his death was the final act in a life devoted completely to love and obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus has transformed all of creation, delivered us from evil and established the kingdom of God. Jesus wants the Apostles and us to testify to love.

Do you know …throughout the Easter season, The Great 50 Days, we rejoice in our Baptism and our membership in the Church? At Mass, we may celebrate a Sprinkling Rite instead of the  Penitential Rite. We are sprinkled with holy water as a reminder of our Baptism.

Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection

 

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Easy Artisan Bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour (one may be whole wheat white)
• 1/2 tsp. yeast
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1.5 cups warm water (100-110 F)

In a bowl, stir all ingredients until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and set at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and form a ball by pulling the dough from the sides to the top. Rest for 30 minutes as you preheat oven to 450 F. Place baking dish with high sides into the oven while preheating. Slash a cross on top of the bread and carefully place into baking dish.

Cover and bake 30 minutes; uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more until golden brown. Cool before slicing.