Family Home Liturgy:

Third Sunday of Easter (26 April)

 Click here to read a PDF of the Liturgy (check Downloads folder)

Mother/other person lights candle

Ldr:   Christ, our Lord, is risen, alleluia!

All:     He is truly risen, alleluia!

Ldr:   WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,

AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

All:     Amen!

Ldr:   Just as the Risen Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus,

so the Risen Jesus is with us now as we gather and pray.

Let us pause in a moment of silence

  and give thanks for the new life we have received…

(after the pause, leader continues…)

You gather us together in faith, Loving God,

and open our hearts to your truth.

Make us strong in professing our faith

in your desire to make all things new.

May your Son always be present to us

on our pilgrimage back to you. 

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

First reader   (Acts 2:14+)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

“People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem,

let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say:

Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders,

and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God,

you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.

But God raised him up, having freed him from death,

because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 

The word of the Lord.   (all: Thanks be to God.)

Second reader                (Luke 24:13–35)

A reading from the Gospel of Luke.

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,

about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other

about all these things that had happened.

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know

the things that have taken place there in these days?”

He asked them, “What things?”

They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,

who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over

to be condemned to death and crucified him.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us.

The women were at the tomb early this morning,

and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us

that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb

and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

Then Jesus said to them,

“Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have declared!

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things

and then enter into his glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,

he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going,

he walked ahead as if he were going on.

But they urged him strongly, saying,

“Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.”

So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them,

he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him;

and he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other,

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road,

while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem;

and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.

They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”

Then they told what had happened on the road,

and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.    (all: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.)

[reflection:  Two disciples (Cleopas and his wife?) are on their journey home to

    Emmaus.  We often refer to life as a journey.  How have you

    experienced the presence of Jesus at different times in your life?

                   The two disciples (and the others) were filled with enthusiasm.  How

                       enthusiastic are you about your faith? ]

prayer leader:

With Easter joy we lift up our prayers.  Our response is, “Lord, hear us.”

• We pray for the Church, gathered here and throughout the world;

may we always find strength and joy

in the opening of the Scriptures and in the Eucharist…

we pray:

• As we journey through life may we always be strong in our confidence

that Jesus is walking with us, giving us hope, joy, comfort and encouragement…

we pray:

• We pray for all who feel lost or abandoned;

may they feel the power of God’s love

through prayer and through the goodness of others…

we pray:

• For blessings upon all who are using

their time, gifts and talents in service of others,

especially medical workers, first responders and those in the food industry…

we pray: 

• We commend to God’s mercy all those who have died (especially __ );

may they experience the love and peace of Jesus…

we pray:

• (other prayers?)

We bind our prayers together with the words Jesus taught us: OUR FATHER…

Ldr:

O God of Easter glory, we are all pilgrims on the journey of life.

May the holy presence of your Son accompany us

in our prayer, in our neighbor, in the sharing of the Scriptures

and in the Breaking of the Bread. 

We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

May the Lord bless us with peace

     and protect us from all harm.  Amen.