April 18, 2021 - 3rd Sunday of Easter

“Lord, let your face shine on us.”

Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

Readings

Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19

First Letter of St. John 2:1-5a

Gospel according to Luke 24:35-48

Reflection

by Sister Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB

The readings from the Sundays after Easter strengthen our faith in the Resurrection of Jesus. They bolster us in our spiritual journey. If we are daily meditating and pondering the Word of God in the Scriptures and keeping His Word, then “the love of God will be truly perfected in us.”

In the Gospel Acclamation, we pray that Jesus will open the Scriptures to us so that our hearts will be filled ardently with faith, hope and love, that they will burn with great devotion and zeal for Jesus and His mission.

Can we honestly say that Jesus and His mission fires up our hearts, that it is a motivating force of love in our life, in our work, in relationships, in our concern for the poor, the despairing, and the homeless? Do we take action daily to live out our Baptismal call to live, and move and have our being in God? Are our hearts on fire for God? Do we truly seek God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our souls? Are we willing to see and touch the wounds of Jesus and believe that He is truly among us? If our hearts are burning for God, then we will be witnesses to God’s saving action in our lives and in the world. We will change the world with our ardent love and with our amazing, incredible joy in the Risen Jesus.

From the Rule of St. Benedict

“What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace. If we wish to reach eternal life, … we must run and do now what will profit us forever.” Rule of Benedict Prologue 42, 44

Gospel Acclamation

“Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.” Cf. Luke 24:32