Today we are reflecting on one of the best known appearances of Jesus after his Resurrection : The Road to Emmaus. This is a few days after the crucixion of Jesus and many of his apostles are very scared. Work of his Resurrection has not reached everyone yet.
Two of his followers decide that it is too dangerous to remain in Jerusalem and decide to go to a nearby village. On the way, they are joined by a stranger who is indeed Jesus but they do not recognise him at first.

Jesus asks them what they are talking about and they are amazed that he does not know what has happened. However, he starts explaining the meaning of what has happened and how it relates to the scriptures. They ask Jesus to stay with them to eat. He takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and given them it to eat. At this point they recognise him as Jesus.

An important message for us here says when we can meet Jesus. At this meeting with Jesus and the two followers he leads them though the Scriptures then breaks bread.

Your question. Where do we here scriptures and where is bread broken for us? This is where we can meet Jesus today. In your own words tell the story of the Road to Emmaus and when it says we can really meet Jesus through Scriptures and the Breaking of the Bread.

Gospel
Luke 24:13-35
They recognised him at the breaking of bread
Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.
Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’
Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’
They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of the bread.

During the 1930’s a Polish Nun named Sr Faustina experienced a number of apparitions of Jesus. Her story of these apparitions has become known as the Divine Mercy Devotions. In his time in Poland before becoming Pope, St John Paul II had a great commitment to the Divine Mercy Devotions a commitment which continued during his Papacy.

On 30th April 2000, which was the Sunday after Easter, Pope St John Paul II canonised St Faustina and declared that each year the Sunday after Easter should be known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The Devotion to Divine Mercy has grown in prayer life of many people.

This Sunday, 19 April 2020, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Many families find the Divine Mercy Devotion to be a good practice in the home and regularly use the Divine Mercy Chaplet. In advance of Sunday, spend some time finding out about the Divine Mercy Devotion and speak with your parents, your children about using the prayers of this Devotion in your home.

Monsignor Monaghan will prepare a weekly reflection each Wednesday. This link will take you to the reflection for today – Easter Wednesday.

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/er/StNinians/

After Forty Days of Lent including a very full Holy Week we have reached Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from the Dead and saved humanity.

Your final entry on your Holy Week Timeline could have the Heading ‘He Is Risen’ and there are many images associated with the Resurrection. The Gospel from the Mass on Easter Sunday is given below. Take time to read it with your family and then complete your Holy Week Timeline. If you have completed a Holy Week Timeline send a photo to RE Twitter Account @StNiniansRE

Gospel
John 20:1-9 ©
He must rise from the dead
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Today is Holy Saturday. After his death on Good Friday Jesus was placed in a tomb and lay there until his Resurrection on the day we call Easter Sunday. There is little liturgical activity on Holy Saturday and indeed it is a day of waiting. The Apostles were confused and hid away in a room not sure what had happened.

For your Holy Week Timeline, leave the space blank under the heading ‘Holy Saturday’ and this will reflect the emptiness of the day.

However, everything changes with Easter Sunday and liturgicallly with the Great Easter Vigil.