EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 20)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A
April 10-16, 2005
“They Recognized Him in the Breaking of the Bread”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Easter song may be sung.
INTRODUCTION
The disciples of Jesus, who were devastated by the event of his passion and death, were traveling on the road to Emmaus, their messianic hope in him shattered. They were perplexed by the reports spread by some women who had gone to the tomb, declaring that Jesus was alive. An Easter apparition was necessary to assure the despondent disciples of the stupendous miracle of the Lord’s resurrection. To them, who were incredulous to the beautiful reality of the “miracle”, the Risen Christ revealed himself, opening their minds and hearts, instructing them about the paschal event of his death and resurrection, and its implications in their life as Easter witnesses. Indeed, the Risen Lord was leading his troubled disciples from disbelief to belief, from doubt to worship, from despair to joy, from timidity to courage, from witnesses of the resurrection to powerful messengers of the good news of salvation.
In our Eucharistic adoration today, let us open ourselves anew to the miracle of life and allow the sunlit beauty of Easter to warm our hearts. With the Risen Christ present with us in his life-giving Word and the Eucharistic mystery, let us journey confidently on the road to Emmaus where our faith encounter with him is complete.
Let us also offer special prayers for our beloved Pope John Paul II that, having participated totally and intimately in Christ’s paschal mystery, he may relish the peace, beauty and joy of God’s gift of eternal life. Glorified with the Risen Lord in heaven, may he intercede for the Church that continues to pilgrimage in today’s world, as a leaven of transformation and a witness of the Easter event.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Lord God, our loving Father,
your Risen Son lives in our midst,
but his face is hidden.
Give us eyes of faith to recognize him with joy
when he speaks his life-giving Word
and when he breaks for us the sacrificial Bread of his body.
May people recognize him in us
when we speak the healing words of encouragement and hope,
and when we break for each other
the bread of justice and friendship in the name of Jesus,
our Risen Lord and companion in our spiritual journey.
He lives and reigns forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Lk 24:13-35
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 20]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any suitable hymn of praise or Easter song may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: Let us now look deep within ourselves and see the meaning and personal implication of the Easter experience of the disciples of Emmaus in our lives.
1. Like the distressed disciple of Emmaus, do we walk away from the mysterious and ineffable paschal events in our life? When we experience disappointments and anguish, do we flee from the divine saving plan?
2. Are we ready to welcome Jesus as our life-giving companion in our journey to faith? Are we ready to welcome him in the “breaking of the bread of the word” and in the “breaking of the Eucharistic bread”?
3. How do we commit ourselves in compassionate service to the “broken body of Christ”? How do we respond to the presence of the Risen Lord within us and around us?
PENITENTIAL PRAYER
Leader: Sin blinds us to the presence of the Risen Lord in our everyday life. Let us ask him to forgive us that we may see him revealed in our midst.
(A moment of silence)
Leader: Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world and we are blind. Open our eyes and forgive us. Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Jesus Christ, you are the joy of the world and we are sad. Give us hope and forgive us. Christ, have mercy.
Assembly: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord Jesus, you are the new fire and our hearts remain cold. Warm our hearts and forgive us. Lord, have mercy.
Assembly: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Assembly: Amen.
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Cf. Days of the Lord, vol. 3, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1993, p. 113-114)
Remain with us, Lord Jesus,
you who were the guest at Emmaus;
throughout the watches of the night,
resurrected you lead us.
Taking bread, you broke it,
then our eyes recognized you;
the flickering flame in our heart
foretells our true happiness.
The time is short, our days are fleeting.
But you prepare your house,
you give meaning to our desires,
a future to our labors.
You the first of the pilgrims,
the star of the last morning,
awake in us by your love
a great hope in your return.
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
(Adapted from Pastoral Service, n. 159 b, May 1984, p. 14)
Leader: Let us pray for ourselves and for our brothers and sisters, that we may know how to recognize Jesus every time he encounters us. Let us pray:
(R.) LORD, OPEN OUR EYES TO YOUR LOVE.
1. That when we journey with the Lord, he may open our eyes and make us recognize him when walking with us. We pray: (R.)
2. That when we speak of what is happening, he may open our eyes and make us understand that he is there. We pray: (R.)
3. That when we read the Gospel, he may open our eyes and set our hearts afire to listen to him. We pray: (R.)
4. That when we break the bread of the Eucharist, he may open our eyes and make us share with one another. We pray: (R.)
5. That when we have eaten with him, he may open our eyes and make us share with one another. We pray: (R.)
6. That when we have met him, he may open our eyes and make us go out without hesitation and make him known to others. We pray: (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Lord Jesus,
our companion on the journey,
it is good to be here with you.
Help us to share your hope and joy
with everyone we meet.
Stay with us now and forever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or Easter song may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US