Easter Encounters

Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9
1 John 2:1-5
Luke 24:35-48

USCCB link to the Readings

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Allow me to tell you about a unique celebration of Easter from the Philippines, where I happily served as a missionary for over five decades. Filipinos celebrate a ritual, known locally as the “meeting” (encuentro); it dramatizes the encounter of the risen Lord and his mother Mary on Easter morning.

Popular Pageantry. Here is how this country-wide popular ritual unfolds. In the early morning darkness, two processions proceed through the town streets. An all-male group follows the statue of the risen Christ; the women follow the sorrowful mother (mater dolorosa), covered with a black veil. The somber, sad mood of Good Friday dominates the two processions. Both groups, praying and singing, emerge into the town square where additional crowds are waiting. They approach the arch of “meeting.” The first light of dawn is breaking.

A white-clad angel is lowered ever so carefully from the arch. She intones the Regina Caeli Laetare, Alleluia (Queen of Heaven Rejoice, Alleluia). As the angel choirs break into their Easter chants, the lead angel removes the black veil and reveals Mary’s joyous face. Mary meets her risen Son—to the wild, yet prayerful, enthusiasm of the expectant crowd. Then the Eucharist is celebrated; the faithful hear the Gospel proclamation to become, like the first disciples, witnesses of the risen Lord.

Easter Experience. The foregoing description of the Easter pageantry in the Philippines is, in fact, eminently faithful to the Gospel narratives; it follows a common five-point pattern that describes the “experience” of meeting the risen Lord.

(1) There is a mood of sadness, fear, and despondency. For example, Mary Magdalene weeping; the Emmaus disciples are returning home disappointed.
(2) The initiative for the encounter comes from Jesus; he comes to Mary, but she thinks he is only the gardener; Jesus “the stranger” walks with the Emmaus disciples.
(3) There is a greeting of peace and reconciliation. Jesus says to his disciples: “Peace be with you.” He personally calls Mary Magdalene by her name.
(4) The high point comes in the moment of recognition. The Emmaus disciples recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread; Mary addresses Jesus as “Rabbuni” (Teacher); John exclaims to Peter: “It is the Lord.”
(5) A mission command from Jesus follows: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.” “Go, make disciples of all nations.”

Our Experience. This five-point biblical pattern, found in the Filipino celebration, is a paradigm of our own Christian experience. We often walk in darkness, failing to recognize Christ’s presence among us; he calls us by name to acknowledge his living presence; we need Word and Sacrament (the Eucharist) to heal our blindness; when we recognize that he is risen and alive, we are impelled into mission to announce the Good News to all.

Easter Greeting. Indeed, Easter is all about meeting the crucified-risen Lord and keeping his personal presence alive in our lives. May you continue to have a deep “encounter” with the risen Lord!

Notes on the Sunday Readings

First Reading
This narrative is from Acts, the book that portrays the life and growth of the infant Church following the resurrection. Here Peter proclaims faith in the resurrected Christ, asserting that we are to be Christ’s witnesses. Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Psalm
As we call upon our merciful God, we ask the Lord to let his face shine upon us.
Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

Second Reading
This reading from John’s first letter reminds us that Jesus is our intercessor and that we prove our love for him by keeping his commandments. 1 John 2:1-5

Gospel
Here Jesus shows himself in his bodily resurrected existence; recall that we say in the Apostles Creed that we believe in “the resurrection of the body” (that of Jesus and ours).
Luke 24:35-48

Notes and Commentary by Maryknoller James Kroeger, who recently published
Walking with Pope Francis: The Official Documents in Everyday Language
(Orbis Books – 2023).

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