Ballinteer Parish Newsletter

EASTER 2005

www.ballinteer.dublindiocese.ie e-mail: editor@ballinteer.dublindiocese.ie

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Unfortunately, due to a difficulties at our printers which were totally out of their control we cannot bring you the usual good quality copy of the Easter 2005 Newsletter. However, the 1st page of the Newsletter is fine and you can scroll down to read it We have imaged copies of pages 2, 3 and 4 of the Newsletter. Please note that the 3 individual pages are quite large and you should allow a few minutes to download the images. Click at end of this page below to view Page 2.

We have been assured by the printers that everything will be back to normal by the time the next issue is due on 15th May 2005.

We are an Easter People.

Alleluia is our song.

There is a lovely story in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 13-35; it is well worth reading. It was Easter Sunday evening. Two followers of Jesus were on the road to Emmaus. They were devastated, the bottom had fallen out of their world, their hopes were dashed and their hearts broken. Their saving grace was that they were talking about it, recalling and remembering all that had happened As they walked and talked a stranger joined them, listened and drew their story out. When he spoke it as to show them from Scripture that ‘it was necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and so enter into his glory’. Obviously they were gripped by him and what he had to say; so much so that when they reached their destination they persuaded him to stay with them. ’While he was at table with them he took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Their eyes were open and they recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread’ (words used by Luke to mean the Eucharist, the Mass). ‘Were not our hearts burning within us’ they said ‘while he was talking to us on the road and explaining the scriptures to us’. Darkness and distance counted for nothing now. ‘They set out immediately; they returned to Jerusalem; they told their story to the Apostles and disciples’.

This story speaks of the importance, when we have a problem, of telling our story no matter how painful; the importance too, of being prepared to listen to another. Did not Jesus say ‘when two or three gather in my name, I am there with them’ Very often all a person in distress needs is to be listened to, what they require, more than advice, is someone who will give them a listening ear.

It is worth noticing that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognise Jesus until the scriptures were explained and the eucharistic meal took place. Scripture and Eucharist - these same means of knowing the Lord - are the essential components of our Sunday service. In the matter of encountering the risen Jesus with faith we are equally privileged with these two disciples and with the generations in between!

Easter 2005 Newsletter - Page 2 of 4

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