Dear sisters and brothers, With the Risen Christ, you will never walk alone. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our
Bible Study
4 May 2014
3rd
Sunday of Easter A
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st
reading: Acts 2:14,22-33
Introduction
 14 Then Peter stood
up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and
proclaimed to them,
"You who are Jews,
indeed all of you
staying in Jerusalem.
Let this be known to
you, and listen to my
words. 22 You who
are Israelites, hear
these words.
Commentary
 Peter is the spokesman of the apostles. He
speaks on behalf of the apostles, whenever
Jesus asks them questions.
 Now, Peter boldly stands up before the
people.
 The once fisherman now works as a
preacher.
 He proclaims the one whom he denied
thrice.
 In parallel form, he addresses himself to the
Jews in Jerusalem// Israelites.
 The content of his preaching is none other
than Jesus, the Nazorean (of Nazareth, in
Galilee).

3. 1st
reading: Acts 2:14,22-33
The Content of the Kerygma
(preaching)
 Jesus the Nazorean was a
man commended to you by
God with mighty deeds,
wonders, and signs, which
God worked through him in
your midst, as you
yourselves know. 23 This
man, delivered up by the
set plan and foreknowledge
of God, you killed, using
lawless men to crucify him.
24 But God raised him up,
releasing him from the
throes of death, because it
was impossible for him to
be held by it.
 How does Peter present Jesus to the
Jews // Israelites, who object to who
Jesus is?
 A man commended (attested) to
you by God
 Through him, God worked
miracles (mighty deeds, wonders
and signs) v.22
 This man you killed, you
crucified. V.23
 In contrast, God raised him up,
releasing him from death.
 The content of the kerygma is the
passion, death and resurrection of
Jesus.
Please read text with the commentary.

4. David on the Messiah
 25 For David says of him: 'I
saw the Lord ever before
me, with him at my right
hand I shall not be disturbed.
26 Therefore my heart has
been glad and my tongue
has exulted; my flesh, too,
will dwell in hope, 27
because you will not
abandon my soul to the
netherworld, nor will you
suffer your holy one to see
corruption. 28 You have
made known to me the paths
of life; you will fill me with joy
in your presence.'
 In v.25, Peter interprets what David
says of him.
 David has seen Jesus.
 As a result, David will not be
disturbed.
 His heart glad
 His tongue exults
 His flesh dwells in hope, v.26
 In parallel form, the Lord / Jesus
will not allow David to go to limbo
or experience corruption. V.27
 V.28 continues to affirm what God /
Jesus does to David
 To make known the paths of life
 To fill me with joy in your presence.

5.  29 My brothers, one can
confidently say to you about
the patriarch David that he
died and was buried, and his
tomb is in our midst to this day.
30 But since he was a prophet
and knew that God had sworn
an oath to him that he would
set one of his descendants
upon his throne, 31 he
foresaw and spoke of the
resurrection of the Messiah,
that neither was he abandoned
to the netherworld nor did his
flesh see corruption. 32 God
raised this Jesus; of this we
are all witnesses.
 In v.29, Peter continues his
preaching. He considers David as a
patriarch (strange!), who died and
was buried (like Christ).
 In v.30, Peter considers David as a
prophet, who knows one of his
descendants would seat upon his
throne.
 David anticipates the resurrection
of Christ (=Messiah).
 Abandonment to the netherworld in
v.31 is a repetition of v.27.
 V.32 reinforces the resurrection of
Jesus.
 Also in v.32, Peter reiterates that he
and the other disciples are
witnesses (‘martyres’) to the
resurrection of Jesus.

6.  33 Exalted at the right hand
of God, he received the
promise of the holy Spirit
from the Father and poured it
forth, as you (both) see and
hear.
 The risen Lord is now exalted
in heaven.
 He is rewarded with the Holy
Spirit, which is now evidently
poured forth at Pentecost.
 The apostles first receive the
Holy Spirit before they engage
in preaching about Jesus.

7. Reflections on the 1st
reading
 In this Easter season, we must center our lives
on Christ.
 Like Peter, we must talk about what happened to
Jesus, his passion, death and resurrection.

8. Resp. Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8, 9-11
 R. (11a) Lord, you will show us the path of life.
 1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
2 I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
5 O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
 7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
8 I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
10 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
 11 You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

9. Resp. Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11
 R. (11a) Lord, you will show us the path
of life.
1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take
refuge;
2 I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
5 O LORD, my allotted portion and my
cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
 7 I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
8 I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be
disturbed.
 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul
rejoices, my body, too, abides in
confidence;
10 because you will not abandon my soul
to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your
faithful one to undergo corruption.
 11 You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
Commentary
 In vv.1-2, the psalmist
prays to God for protection.
 In v.5, the psalmist
acknowledges God as the
one who strengthens him.
 In vv.7-8, the psalmist
blesses God for his wise
counsel and makes him
present in his life.
 V.9 gives the result in
trusting God: gladness and
joy; confidence
 V.10 acknowledges God,
who save the faithful from
death and corruption.
 In God, there is always life
and joy. V.11

10. Reflections on the Psalm
 Like the psalmist, when we are in trouble, we
should put our lives in the hands of God.
 We must trust in his powerful intervention.
 We must rejoice and celebrate in anticipation of
his power and protection.
 Christians must develop a spirituality that puts
God first, secondary is one’s own ability and
wisdom.
 Do you take recourse in God when you are in
trouble?
 Or, do you say, “I can manage. I don’t need
God.”

11. 2nd
reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
 17 If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially
according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with
reverence during the time of your sojourning, 18
realizing that you were ransomed from your futile
conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with
perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the
precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished
lamb. 20 He was known before the foundation of the
world but revealed in the final time for you, 21 who
through him believe in God who raised him from the
dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are
in God.
The focus is on the proper conduct of Christians.

12. 2nd
reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
 17 If you invoke as
Father him who judges
impartially according to
each one's works,
conduct yourselves with
reverence during the
time of your sojourning,
18 realizing that you
were ransomed from
your futile conduct,
handed on by your
ancestors, not with
perishable things like
silver or gold 19 but
with the precious blood
of Christ as of a
spotless unblemished
lamb.
Commentary
 V.17 opens the sentence with an “if”
(conditional clause).
 The author says to us, Christians, that the
Father judges according to our deeds, not
according to his whims.
 If we invoke him (pray to him, ask him a
favor), we have to conduct ourselves with
reverence (respect).
 We are still in transit.
 V.18 says Christians are ransomed from
their futile conduct (useless rituals).
 We are not ransomed with precious
metals, but with the precious blood of
Christ. V.19
 Jesus paid a great price for our
redemption.
 Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, the perfect
ransom for our sins.

13. 2nd
reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21
 20 He was known before
the foundation of the
world but revealed in the
final time for you, 21 who
through him believe in
God who raised him from
the dead and gave him
glory, so that your faith
and hope are in God.
 V.20 indicates Christ’s
eternity (beginning and end).
 He has been here since the
creation (genesis) and will
be revealed at the end of
time (eschaton).
 In v.21, we believe in God
through Christ.
 We believe in God, who
raised Jesus from the dead.
 God gave him glory.
 All these God has done that
we may have faith and hope
in God.

14. Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 If we recognize God as our Father, then we have to
behave accordingly as his children.
 We must fear (revere) God for he judges according to
our deeds.
 His judgment is not clouded by favoritism.
 We must realize that his Son, Jesus, has paid a great
price for our salvation.
 Christ is the perfect ransom for our sins, he is more
precious than metals.
 How do you show your appreciation to God’s great act?

15. Gospel reading: Luke 24:13-35
 13 That very day, the
first day of the week,
two of Jesus’ disciples
were going to a village
seven miles from
Jerusalem called
Emmaus, 14 and they
were conversing about
all the things that had
occurred. 15 And it
happened that while
they were conversing
and debating, Jesus
himself drew near and
walked with them, 16
but their eyes were
prevented from
recognizing him.
Commentary
 The setting is on a Sunday afternoon.
(before sundown)
 The two disciples are not ordinary
men on the street.
 They know many things about Jesus.
 They are learned. They analyze.
 They are going back to Emmaus, a
two or three hour walk from
Jerusalem. They are discouraged
and confused.
 As they walk, they converse, they
debate.
 In the midst of their heated
discussion, Jesus draws near and
walks with them.
 But they do not recognize him.

16.  17 He asked them,
"What are you
discussing as you
walk along?" They
stopped, looking
downcast. 18 One
of them, named
Cleopas, said to
him in reply, "Are
you the only visitor
to Jerusalem who
does not know of
the things that have
taken place there in
these days?" 19
And he replied to
them, "What sort of
things?"
 In v.17, Jesus asks as if he does not
know anything.
 He wants them to articulate their
concerns.
 They stop, looking sad.
 They don’t answer his question right
away.
 In v.18, Cleopas seems to even
ridicule him in his response.
 He tells him that he seems to be the
only visitor who does not know the
recent events in Jerusalem.
 In v.19, Jesus follows up his
question.
 He wants to draw out something
from their experiences.

17.  They said to him,
"The things that
happened to Jesus
the Nazarene, who
was a prophet mighty
in deed and word
before God and all
the people, 20 how
our chief priests and
rulers both handed
him over to a
sentence of death
and crucified him. 21
But we were hoping
that he would be the
one to redeem Israel;
 In vv.19-20, they start
answering his question.
 The happenings, the events in
Jerusalem, center on Jesus of
Nazareth.
 He is known to be a prophet
 Mighty in deed and word
before God and people
 The chief priests and rulers
(elders) handed him over to
death, by crucifying him.
 They manipulated the people
to kill him.
 In v.21, the two disciples
express their nationalistic hope
on Jesus.
 To redeem Israel, to free
with a ransom (has a
religious meaning).

18.  and besides all this, it
is now the third day
since this took place.
 22 Some women from
our group, however,
have astounded us:
they were at the tomb
early in the morning 23
and did not find his
body; they came back
and reported that they
had indeed seen a
vision of angels who
announced that he was
alive. 24 Then some of
those with us went to
the tomb and found
things just as the
women had described,
but him they did not
see."
 V.21. Just a little commentary on “the third
day” which is always problematic to some.
 1) Fri 3pm = Friday (1st
day)
 2) Fri 6pm = Saturday/Sabbath (2nd
day)
 3) Sat/Sabbath 6 pm = Sunday (3rd
day)
 The Jewish day starts in the evening at
sundown.
 Friday at 6 PM is already Saturday for them.
 Don’t reckon days by 24 hours.
 V.22 acknowledges the role of the women
disciples in the newsbreaking. We are led to
conclude that the disciples are not only men.
 The women are first to discover the risen
Lord:
 They do not find his body in the tomb.
 They report to the men about the vision
of angels, who announce he is alive. V.23
 The apostles go to the tomb also to verify the
report of the women.
 The women are not lying.

19.  25 And he said to
them, "Oh, how
foolish you are! How
slow of heart to
believe all that the
prophets spoke! 26
Was it not
necessary that the
Messiah should
suffer these things
and enter into his
glory?" 27 Then
beginning with
Moses and all the
prophets, he
interpreted to them
what referred to him
in all the scriptures.
 In v.25, it is the turn of Jesus to
interpolate after they recount everything
they know.
 He shocks them by saying, “How foolish /
stupid you are.” (Ang hahangal ninyo,
mga tanga, bubo!) Very strong words
indeed!
 Knowledge of facts and details are not
enough to see the truth.
 They don’t know how to interpret what
they know, because they are slow to or
don’t believe the words of the prophets.
 V.26 affirms the necessity of the Messiah
to undergo the paschal mystery (passion-
death and resurrection).
 In v.27, Jesus explains to them the
scriptures, all that refers to him.
 The risen Lord takes time to interpret
(hermeneuein) the scriptures.
 The disciples need to put their
experience into its proper perspective.

20.  28 As they approached the
village to which they were
going, he gave the
impression that he was
going on farther. 29 But
they urged him, "Stay with
us, for it is nearly evening
and the day is almost over."
So he went in to stay with
them. 30 And it happened
that, while he was with
them at table, he took
bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to
them. 31 With that their
eyes were opened and they
recognized him, but he
vanished from their sight.
32 Then they said to each
other, "Were not our hearts
burning (within us) while he
spoke to us on the way and
opened the scriptures to
us?"
 V.28 signals the second part of the story,
“as they approached the village…”
 It cuts off / shortens the explanations of
Jesus on the bible.
 Now it is time for the author to introduce
another concern.
 It is totally different from the first part.
 The author does this by making Jesus
give the impression he still has a long
way to go.
 In v.29, the two disciples strongly urge
him to stay with them.
 The reason: it is almost dark. It is
dangerous to travel in the dark.
 Jesus obliges.
 In v.30, Jesus takes the initiative to
repeat the Last Supper.
 V.31 reports that their eyes are opened
(open up completely) and they recognize
him (come to know him).
 V.32 expresses their feelings deep within
when Jesus was still speaking.

21.  33 So they set out at
once and returned to
Jerusalem where they
found gathered
together the eleven and
those with them 34
who were saying, "The
Lord has truly been
raised and has
appeared to Simon!"
35 Then the two
recounted what had
taken place on the way
and how he was made
known to them in the
breaking of the bread.
 V.33 relates the two men going back
to Jerusalem.
 Without being told, they feel the urge
to report to the brethren in
Jerusalem.
 In v.34, the brethren confirms the
resurrection of Jesus and his
appearance to Peter.
 In v.35, the two disciples narrate to
them what happened as they were
going home and what transpired
when they ate supper.
 The last verse gives emphasis on the
recognition of Jesus through the
breaking of the bread.

22. Outline of the gospel reading
Vv.13-27 (to the village)
 It starts with “two were
going to the village”
 Vv.13-16 sad,
debating, Jesus
appears, walks with
them, no recognition
 Vv.17-19 questioning
and answering
 Vv.19b-21 greatness of
Jesus, his passion and
death
 Vv.21b-24 the
resurrection
 Vv.24-27 “foolish” and
interpretation
Vv.28-32 (in the village)
 It continues “ as they
approached the
village”
 V.28-29 going further,
staying with them
 Vv.30-31 breaking of
the bread, recognition
 V.32 expresses their
feeling while Jesus
was explaining. Here
we get a glimpse that
something was
happening already
when Jesus was
explaining.
vv.33-35 (from the
village)
•v.33 The return to
Jerusalem to report to
the brethren.
•vv.33-34 the brethren
first report to them
Jesus’ appearance
•v.35 the retelling of
the story on the way
and in the house
Part I Part II Part III

23. Reflections on the gospel reading
 The gospel reading is a story of the journey of
faith.
 The story contains many other journeys:
 From sadness to joy (rejoicing)
 From non-recognition (eyes closed) to recognition
(eyes opened)
 From arguing with their minds (reasoning) to listening
and celebrating (believing and faith).
 From dispersion to gathering again.
 From just a nationalistic concern to a higher concern
(proclamation of his resurrection).

24.  Do you take on your journey alone?
without companions, without Jesus?
 Do you recognize Jesus (or his ministers)
as a co-journeyer, explainer and
interpreter?
 Are you led to the participation in the
banquet of his Word and Sacrament?

25. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading talks about the kerygma with the
emphasis of the resurrection of Jesus. God raises him
for God does not allow him to undergo corruption.
 The psalm says God does not let his faithful undergo
corruption.
 The second reading talks about the proper behavior of
Christians, because we are transformed through the
merit of Jesus’ resurrection.
 The gospel reading is centered on the resurrection of
Jesus in his word and his sacrament.

26. How to develop your homily / sharing
 We put our hopes on people, who can help us.
We spend our fortune to approach them.
 Yet many times, we are discouraged when we
do not get the help from them.
 We go back to our places disillusioned.
 Life becomes worse. There is no return in our
investments. We are more indebted than before.
 That’s what the disciples feel when they are
going back to Emmaus.
 They are going home because the one they had
hoped would liberate and save them is dead.

27.  But for Jesus, their effort to follow him as their
leader, master and messiah has not been wasted.
 They must understand the meaning of the events.
So Jesus has to explain the scriptures.
 Maybe this time, after they have been hurt,
intimidated and discouraged, they are more
receptive.
 True enough, even if they are scolded by Jesus,
they keep listening to him. They invite him to stay
with them in the house for the night (hoping to hear
more from him). They care for him whom they don’t
recognize yet. His light is shining and is burning
their hearts.

28.  We, too, like the disciples, must be keen
on what God is telling us.
 We must discern his will, as we journey
with him in faith.
 We must be open to his inspiration.
 Once we see the light, like the disciples,
we too must share it with others.

29.  In the first reading, the apostles preach the
Risen Lord.
 With wisdom and courage, they explain to
the people who Jesus is.
 They are giving witness to their faith.
 Their lights are burning.

30.  The second reading deepens the message of
the resurrection.
 Peter, the author, teaches that our salvation (our
resurrections) did not come so cheaply.
 Christ paid a high price by shedding his blood.
 Christian believers must revere and fear God
and be thankful to him.
 We must take God seriously. We should live
moral lives.

31.  In our churches, we find co-journeyers, looking
for light and consolation.
 As enlightened people, we must show our
solidarity with them.
 Let God make us his instruments in finding
meaning in their lives.
 Let us not allow them to find substitutes for
Christ (like worldly pleasure, prohibited substances,
gambling, etc.)

32.  In the eucharist, Jesus accompanies us in our
journey.
 In the eucharist, Jesus shows his solidarity
with us, who are still groping to see the light, to
live in the truth, to make sense out of our
discouragements.
 We recognize him in the breaking of the bread
(eucharist).
 In the eucharist, God calls us to share in his
mission.

33. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Slow to learn, to
believe
 Hard headed, stupid
 Loners
 Isolated, too
independent
 Does not need
guidance
 Contented with
substitutes
 Knows how to interpret
 Take things with faith
 Listens to the Word of God
 Bible Study
 Participates in the eucharist
 Docile to teachers and
formators
 Community builder
 Facilitator
 Good guide

34. Suggested Songs
 Light