Children's Liturgy Series: 3rd Sunday of Easter Sunday (Cycle A)

In today's Gospel we visit the story of two disheartened disciples of Jesus walking home from Jerusalem to Emmaus just after Jesus was crucified. As they try to process the events of the past few days, a stranger joins them and gives them a lesson on salvation history.  Captivated by this stranger's knowledge of scripture, they invite him to stay for dinner. It's not until this person breaks bread with them, do they realize that it is the risen Lord himself, who then vanishes before them. Hope is restored in them and they rush back to Jerusalem to tell the Apostles the good news.

Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together today for this Children's Liturgy lesson. Thank you for revealing to us the stories of the many people who witnessed your resurrected body. Thank you for giving us hope and making salvation a possibility for all of us. Please send us the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize when you are trying to speak to us through our encounter with others in our day-to-day travels. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. 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?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" 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, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 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. 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." And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 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. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 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?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Place the Bible, small plate, and wine glass where all of the children can see them. Ask: When we gather to celebrate Mass, what special meal do we recall? (Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples) What special things did Jesus do at that meal? (He prayed a prayer of blessing, broke the bread, and gave the bread to his disciples.)

Say: That meal was the most important meal that Jesus shared with his disciples, but Jesus ate other meals with his friends too. The Gospels tell us that he multiplied bread and fish to feed a large crowd. After his Resurrection, the Gospels tell us that Jesus appeared to his disciples and shared meals with them. Today’s Gospel is about one of these meals. Let’s read the Gospel together.

Ask: What are the two disciples doing when Jesus approaches them? (They are leaving Jerusalem. They are talking about Jesus’ crucifixion and death.) Why do you think these disciples are leaving Jerusalem? What are their thoughts and feelings? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Do the disciples recognize Jesus as he approaches them? (No) What do the two disciples talk about with Jesus as they walk? (Accept all reasonable answers.) How does Jesus respond to them? (Jesus asks the disciples to tell him about what had happened in Jerusalem, and then he interprets those events for them using Scripture.) What happens during the meal? (Jesus stays with them. Jesus blesses the bread, breaks it, and shares it with the disciples. The disciples recognize that the stranger is Jesus.) What do the disciples do after the meal? (They return to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what has happened.)

Say: In some important ways, that story reminds us of what we do when we gather for Mass. We read and reflect upon Scripture and try to interpret the events of our lives in the light of Scripture. That part of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. Then we share a meal, doing what Jesus did: blessing and breaking the bread. That part of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Whenever we celebrate Mass we recognize that Jesus is present to us in the Word and in a special way in the Eucharist. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, at the end of the Eucharist we are sent to share the good news of Jesus with others. We "go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”

Conclude by praying together that we will recognize that Jesus is present to us in Scripture and the Eucharist. Pray that we will be faithful to Jesus by sharing our experience of Jesus with others. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer or today’s psalm, Psalm 16.

Father in Heaven, thank you for this lesson of hope. Please send us the Holy Spirit so we can feel your peace and love in our hearts, and spread your message of hope to those around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.