Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)

First Reading - Acts 2.42-47

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. All those who were baptised devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. All were deeply moved at the many wonders and signs being done through the apostles. The believers were all together, day by day, in the temple, and breaking bread in their homes, where they would eat together, with glad and generous hearts. They held everything in common, selling their goods and possessions, and distributing the proceeds to any who were in need. They were continually praising God. They had the goodwill of all the people. And day by day, the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Peter 1.17b-21

A reading from the first letter of Peter. We have been rescued from the futile ways that we inherited from our ancestors. And the cost of our rescue was not silver or gold, but the precious blood of Christ, who was like a sacrificial lamb, without defect or blemish. This was God’s plan and purpose from before the foundation of the world: that through Christ, we should find faith and trust in God, who has raised Christ from death to glory. So during this time of our exile, let us live a life that honours our Father in heaven. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Luke 24.13-35

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. That same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were walking to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, talking with each other about everything that had happened. While they were talking, and discussing these things, Jesus himself came near, and walked with them, but their eyes were kept from recognising him. Jesus asked them what they were discussing as they were walking along.

They stood still, looking downcast. One of them said, ‘You must be the only person, in all Jerusalem, who does not know the things that have happened there, in recent days.’ Jesus asked them, ‘What things?’ They said, ‘About Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet, mighty in word and deed, in the sight of God, and all the people. And how our chief priests and elders handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified. We had hoped that he was the one to save Israel. It is now the third day since these things took place, and some women from our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning. They did not find his body, but came back and told us that they had 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.’ Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have declared! For it was necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things, and only then enter into his glory.’ And beginning with Moses, and the prophets, Jesus explained to them all the scriptures concerning himself. As they came near to the village, Jesus walked on ahead, as if he intended to go on. But they persuaded him to stay with them, as it was already late, and becoming dark. When they came to eat, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And he disappeared from their sight. And now, they each told the other how their hearts had burned within them as he had talked with them, on the road, and opened the scriptures to them. That same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven, and those with them, gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen, and has appeared to Peter!’ And the two disciples told them what had happened on the road, and how the Lord had been made known to them in the breaking of bread. This is the Gospel of the Lord.