GOD WALKS WITH US
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: The famous poem “Footprints” affirms an important truth of our faith: God walks with us always and especially in difficult moments.
We pray that we may experience his presence, allow him to accompany us on the journey of life, and accompany others on their journeys.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not allowed God to walk with us or have failed to recognize his presence, we ask his forgiveness.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you walk with us on the road of life:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you open the Scriptures to us:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you give us your life-giving bread:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: O God of mystery,
out of death you delivered Christ Jesus,
and he walked in hidden glory with his disciples.
Stir up our faith,
that our hearts may burn within us
at the sound of his word
and our eyes be opened to recognise him
in the breaking of the bread.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Response Lord, you will show us the path of life.
or: Alleluia.
Reading 2 1 Peter 1:3-9
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;
make our hearts burn while you speak to us.Gospel Luke 24:13-35
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. What are your thoughts and feelings as you experience the presence of the Jesus opening the Scriptures and breaking the bread?
Sunday Snippets
The film The Miracle Worker is the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. It depicts how Sullivan broke through Keller’s isolation, confusion, and anger, which came about because of her inability to communicate with people. For 49 years, she journeyed with Keller—first as teacher and then as companion. She showed Keller the meaning of words; she helped Keller transform herself from a wild girl into a world-famous speaker, author, and advocate for differently abled people.
The two disciples on their way to Emmaus had a journey like Keller. They have just experienced a great loss. “We had hoped,” they say. Past tense! They have left the community of disciples and are walking away from Jerusalem… away from the place where their hopes were shattered! And then Jesus walks with them. They went from despair to hope, from looking downcast to having burning hearts after the Risen Jesus journeyed with them as teacher (he broke the word to them) and companion (he broke bread with them). After this walk, they became messengers of hope to the other disciples.
The second reading is an excerpt from 1 Peter written for Christians in Asia Minor whose acceptance of the gospel alienated them from society. Peter bolsters their faith. He tells them that during the time of their sojourning, the Risen Jesus sojourns with them.
“God walking with us” is a recurrent theme in the Bible: he walked with Adam and Eve in the garden; he walked with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he walked with the Israelites in the desert; he walked with the exiles; he walked the shore of Galilee healing the sick and comforting the anguished.
We are often on an Emmaus journey. God walks with us in our times of anguish and despair, confusion and pain, when we cannot make sense of the events of our life and our world. Do I recognise him? Or do discouragement and despair prevent me from recognising him?
God continues to explain his way and his word to us. Will I listen to him and attempt to understand? Do I walk with others?
May you and I be aware of God walking with us on our “Emmaus” journeys! May the opening the scriptures and the breaking the bread strengthen us to walk with others to bring them hope.
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Do I proclaim the “mighty deeds, wonders, and signs” that the Lord has worked in my life? Does my life witness to the Resurrection?
Reading 2: The reading spells out two attitudes: we are to conduct ourselves “with reverence during the time of [our] sojourning” and live lives characterized by confidence and hope. How reverent/ circumspect am I? Am I a hope-filled person?
Gospel: God walks with me always. Have I recognized his presence with me during difficult moments? Who or what keeps me from recognizing Jesus? Could my expectations of Jesus blind me to the real Jesus?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Sisters and brothers, we bring our doubts and fears, our joys and concerns, our petitions and praise to the Lord who walks with us, and we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Pope and bishops: that they may walk with their people especially who have lost hope and guide them by opening the scriptures and breaking the bread, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the world: that God may end all violent conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and Sudan, open new avenues for dialogue, and bring forth structures that promote justice for all, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are on significant journeys, for missionaries, pilgrims, aid workers, and defence personnel: that God may protect them from harm, lead them safely to their destination, and help them be aware of his presence with them, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who are ill: that God’s healing love and the care of their loved ones may relieve their pain and restore them to health, we pray to the Lord…
R: For our common home: that we may respect creation and care for it as a gift of God, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that the Spirit may guide our daily journeys and enable us to ease fear, bring hope, and offer encouragement to those who touch our lives, we pray to the Lord…
L: O Lord, you walk with us on this journey of life. Break through our disillusionment and despair that we may find our way and journey on as messengers of your good news. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
you journeyed with your disciples
who were disappointed and dejected.
You listened to them,
accepted them where they were,
and helped them see meaning in your suffering and death.
You showed yourself to them
in the breaking of the Scriptures
and in the breaking of the bread.
Lord,
come walk with us and be with us now.
Open our eyes
and make our minds and hearts blaze!
May we cherish your presence
in the Word and in the Bread.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Almighty and ever-loving God,
we have encountered your risen Son.
He spoke to us his word of life.
May we speak to one another his word
that sets hearts afire with hope.
May we be his bread
that nourishes everyone around us.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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