Third Sunday of Easter

There are many opportunities to to watch streamed Masses, including those in our own archdiocese.
The news link to the archdiocese can be found here.

Here in the Cluster, we too would like to offer people some useful aids to prayer.
These are not liturgical services following the normal rubrics; rather they are prayer resources for people and their families which we hope they will find helpful and useful in recalling these important events in the life of every Christian.
We value your feedback so please tell us what you found helpful and ways in which we might be able to improve.

We would be particularly interested to hear your thoughts about the gospel passage, no matter how short - and sweet!
Simply reply to our email address:      southedclust@btinternet.com


Let us pray

As we become conscious of the presence of God in our lives, so we find ourselves in prayer...
... welcomed into the loving relationship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter follow:    (a useful commentary on these readings here)
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice:
‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.
So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me,
you will fill me with gladness through your presence.

‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.’
The word of the Lord
If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home.

Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake.

Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.
The word of the Lord
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 bread.
Reflection time. The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus portrays an eternal theme. They are trying to come to terms with Jesus - a Jesus whom they thought they knew. But as often happens in our relationship with Jesus, we project onto him our image of what he should be like - be it Messiah, mighty warrior, whatever...
Perhaps we will recognise him if we go looking in the breaking of the Word of God; the sharing of the Eucharistic bread; or the face of our isolated neighbour.
Questions. (Framed for a group discussion  but can be reflected on individually)
  • Can you remember an event/task that looked at first like a mountain but turned out to be more like a mole hill? What have you learned from this that you can bring to your faith?
  • What meal or gathering have you been at which has meant something very special to you?
    How might that inform your understanding of the Eucharist?
  • Jesus might say: "I was there, but you weren't looking for me, you were looking for what you wanted."
    How has your relationship with Jesus grown over the years?
    Adapted from "Faith Sharing for Small Church Communities" by  Rev Arthur Baranowski (ed)  St Anthony Messenger Press

Prayers of Intercession    Third Sunday of Easter A  

In today’s Gospel we read that the disciples thought Jesus was a stranger when they met
him on the road to Emmaus. It wasn’t until Jesus broke bread that they recognised him.
As we journey through our daily lives may we recognise Jesus walking among us in the
kindness of strangers and have our eyes opened to his presence alongside us in this pandemic.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For Pope Francis and the Church – that Christians everywhere respond to the call to accompany people as Jesus did, listening in love, explaining the scriptures and opening pathways to faith.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For governments and leaders of nations – that there be a renewed desire by all in power to establish just international practices for the sharing of goods, and promoting the health and wellbeing of all peoples and the environment.
Grant that as they make major decisions affecting the lives of millions of people, their decision-making will be guided by compassion, wisdom and a willingness to serve the most vulnerable members of society.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For all front line workers, doctors, health workers and carers who daily put their lives on
the line in the exhausting battle with Covid-19. and at great personal risk and sacrifice
attend to the needs of their patients. We pray also at this time for those who are
seriously ill, whose treatment has been interrupted or delayed by the demands of the coronavirus.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For all facing financial ruin as their businesses collapse because of the lockdown.
Grant that that we may do all that we can for those who need of our help and support.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For our senior citizens and particularly for those in nursing and retirement homes and
those who are lonely. May the love and care they receive be a source of hope and bring
them safely through this difficult time.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

We pray for all those who are sick for whatever reason, that they might find healing
and full recovery.
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

For those who have died, without the consolation of family or friends at their bedside.
and for all who have lost loved ones during this time of crisis and who have
been unable to be with them, grieve for them and be comforted by their friends and community.
We pray for members of our cluster who have died especially Sr Mary Steedman who died on Monday
Response: Lord in your mercy …Hear our prayer

Let us call to mind our own intentions at this time...

Closing Prayer. 
Picture of Jesus at door
"Behold I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3 v20
Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

End of Prayer resource