Homily 3rd Sunday Easter 2023

Franklin Fong, OFM

April 23, 2023

Among the many accounts of how the early disciples come to believe that Jesus is risen and is among his followers is the Gospel story of the two travelers on the road to Emmaus. It is a story that can serve as a pattern for us today who also must become aware of the presence of the risen Lord. 

 Reflection on the story shows that the two disciples go through what are called the five “D’s” First there are despair and doubt. Then there are dialogue, disclosure, and direction.

Because they are disillusioned and disappointed in their own personal dreams about the man Jesus, they doubt the report that Jesus is risen. 

Then their fellow traveler draws near. He initiates a dialogue with them. He interprets the scriptures and they begin to see God’s real purpose in the cross. Finally the risen Jesus is disclosed to them in the breaking of the bread. Out of this encounter with the enlightening and burning word, and the shared bread, they discover direction in their lives. They join with others in word and Eucharist to share and to witness to the Good News.

If we are to move beyond despair and doubt,

if our hearts are to be filled with joy in Jesus’ presence as we heard in the first reading,

 if our faith and hope are to be centered in God as we hear in the second reading,

 then we are not to travel alone. 

 It is with others that we are to listen to the same word . this is DIALOGUE . They then shared the same bread and cup that is DISCLOSURE. Then the risen Jesus sends us forth to be witnesses of the resurrection to those who otherwise remain in despondency and doubt. THIS FINAL ‘D’ THEN IS A CHANGE IN THEIR DIRECTION !  

Take some time in the coming week to reflect on how the 5 ‘D’s have been evident in your faith journey as well. 

When in your faith journey have you experienced despair and doubt about your faith in Jesus? 

How has dialogue, disclosure, and direction each expressed itself in your faith journey today?  

Once you recognize these 5 stages in your own life, you can appreciate what it means to the little ones who are just beginning their faith journey on the laps and shoulders of their parents!   

How can we now walk this faith journey with this knowledge that our faith journey is a slow process needing years if not decades to travel.   

How can we support these young parents and children in our Chinese Catholic Community?

That my brothers and sisters of 

the Chinese Catholic Community is the Good News 

for this third Sunday of Easter !

Alleluia Alleluia !

(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)

四旬期甲年復活第三主日 (04/23/2023)
鄺神父主日講道中譯本

讀經一: 宗徒大事錄 2: 14, 22-33
讀經二: 聖伯多祿前書 1: 17-21
路加福音 24: 13-35

		在很多早期門徒們是如何相信耶穌死後升天並成為衪的追隨者的福音記載中，有
		一個講的是兩個去厄瑪烏路上的門徒的故事。這個故事所描述的可以成為我們現
		今的信仰模式，我們必須要時時警醒，要意識到復活主的存在。

		對整個故事的反思我們看到，兩個門徒的經歷有五個過程：首先是失望，懷疑；
		遇到復活主後是對話，開啟；最後是主給他們指出了方向。

		起初兩個門徒因自己對耶穌的個人夢想的幻滅而失望，所以對耶穌已經復活的說
		法持懷疑的態度。

		有旅行同伴接近了他們，這個人主動跟他們對話。衪解釋經文，使他們看到了耶
		穌被釘十字架上的真正目的。最終復活了的耶穌在擘餅的時候親自向他們顯現。
		因著復活主那燃燒的話語，他們得到了開啟，擘餅的時候他們認出了衪，因此明
		白了自己在這地上生命的方向。他們和其他門徒一起在傳講主的聖言聖體聖事中
		分享見證福音這個大好的消息。

·  如果我們要超越絕望和懷疑；

		· 如果我們的心想要如讀經一中聽到的那樣充滿耶穌同在的喜樂；

		· 如果我們的心想要如讀經二中聽到的那樣以天主為我們的中心；

		那麼我們就不能獨自在信仰的路上前行。

		我們要和其他人一起聆聽同樣的話語，這是相交，是對話；我們要一起吃餅，喝
		杯，這是獲得啟示。然後，復活的耶穌差我們去為那些仍處在沮喪和懷疑中的人
		做復活的見證。天主最終的目的是：改變我們生命的方向！

		本週請大家花時間來反思一下這五個方面：失望，懷疑，對話，開啟，方向。在
		你的信仰之旅上你處在什麼樣的狀態中：

		· 你的信仰之旅中，有沒有經歷過對信仰的絕望和懷疑？

		· 你與天主的對話，祂對你的啟示， 和你生命的方向，在你今天的信仰之旅中
		是用什麼樣的方式在表達著？

		· 一旦你意識到這五個階段在自己的生活中是個什麼狀態時，你才會明白對一個
		還需要父母懷抱的嬰孩“將要開始他的人生信仰之旅”這句話意味著什麼！

		· 我們該如何穩健地走在信仰的路上呢。要明白信仰之旅是個緩慢的過程，需要
		數年甚至數十年的旅行。

		· 我們該如何支持華人天主教社區的這些年輕父母和孩子們呢？

		

所以, 華人天主教團體的弟兄姊妹們, 這是這個復活節第三主日的好消息!

阿肋路亞, 阿肋路亞!