Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 3rd Sunday of Easter – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Acts 2:14, 22-33
  • 1 Peter 1:17-21
  • Luke 24:13-35

“Pencils up!” Dad commanded his family this Sunday morning.  “It’s another edition of TA-DA! Gospel Bowl.”

“Gospel Bowl?” Vincent asked.  “Is that anything like the Super Bowl?”

“Not exactly, Vincent,” Dad answered.  “It’s more like College Bowl or High School Bowl.  Those were quiz shows I watched in my younger years.  I thought it would be fun to ask you questions about this morning’s Gospel reading, and see how well you listened and understood the passage!”

Everyone rushed to sit at the kitchen table behind their answer sheet and pencil.  All ears were perked to listen.  Dad took out his Bible and read the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 24, about Jesus appearing to two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus.

Dad closed his Bible and pulled out a question sheet from his pocket.  “Okay, My Fine Children!  Are we ready to begin?”

“Yes, Sir!” they all exclaimed, as they readied their papers. 

“All-righty then!” Dad chuckled.  “Question number one: Who appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?”

Everyone scrambled to write down an answer.  Four-year-old Hillary whispered her answer to Mom who wrote it down for her.  Soon all eyes were back on Dad, waiting for the second question.

“Now, question number two: Did the two disciples recognize Jesus as they discussed the events of the past week?”

In a flash, the answers were written.

“Question number three,” Dad continued.  “What did Jesus help the disciples understand more fully, concerning Himself, Moses, and the prophets?”

Again, the answers were quickly written down.

“And the last question … ” Dad said, “When did they finally recognize that it was Jesus?”

Pencils fluttered.  Vincent looked up and smiled because he thought that one was easy.

“Okay now, let’s see how well you did,” Dad began.  “Who has the answer to question number one: Who appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?”

“Jesus!” they all cheered out.  Everyone got that question right.

“Great!” Dad went on, “Now question two: Did the disciples recognize Jesus as they discussed the events of the past week?”

Vincent spoke up.  “Not at that time, Dad.  You see, the way I understood it was that they only knew it was Jesus when … “

“Vincent!” Dad laughed, “you’re going to give away the answer to question number four!”

Vincent could only smile as he said, “Answering only question two, the answer is NOT!”

Everyone was laughing now.  This Gospel Bowl was turning out to be lots of fun.

“So, question three,” Dad continued.  “What did Jesus help the disciples understand more fully?”

“I know!” Mary Clare said, “Scripture!  I remember how you read the part when the disciples said, ‘Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke  to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?’ “  (Luke 24:32)

“Very good, Mary Clare!” Dad agreed.  “Scripture contained all the prophecies about Jesus and how Jesus would bring salvation through His Passion and death.  Jesus wanted the disciples to know that He was on a mission directed by God Himself.”

“And now for our last question: When did the disciples recognize that it was Jesus with them?”

“Let me answer, Dad,” Vincent chimed in with a huge grin.  “Like I was trying to explain before, the disciples recognized Jesus at the breaking of the bread.  That’s when they truly knew it was Him.”

“Excellent, Vincent!”  Dad nodded.  “And in this Gospel reading, we have the two essential parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, when Jesus interpreted Scripture, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when Jesus breaks the bread.  When the Word of God and the Eucharist are celebrated, our eyes are opened, just like they were for the two disciples in today’s reading.”

“This was great, Dad!” Lucy added as she drew a big star at the top of her paper.  “I think we all got perfect papers in the Gospel Bowl!”

“Finally!” Vincent grinned, adding his own star, “A test that I liked!”

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Have a “Gospel Bowl” quiz in your own family.
Use these same questions, or add some of your own.
We all have “stars” on our papers when we learn more about Jesus!

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Cycle A, 3 Easter, SSSDownload

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