Walking with Jesus: Third Sunday of Easter A

For Sunday, April 19, 2026

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


How present is God in your life? In my life? Do we reflect on this? Is our reflection a common occurrence, or does it only happen on weekends in Church or during our daily prayer meetings? Do we place life’s obstacles and attractions in the way of sitting and spending time in gratitude, reflection and wonder over God’s constant interactions in our lives? The Resurrection of Jesus is a constant reminder of our own resurrection to eternal life — an enduring promise of Jesus. Do we sit with this or just stay silent and hope it will happen? How do we form or reform our lives to make God’s love more a reality and His presence a focal point of our gratitude and instruction on our journey to our heavenly home?

Life is not static but rather a movement from one point to another. God created us out of love and in accordance with His plan. He inserted us individually in this place and time along with others. We have forged paths and discovered dark valleys and sublime moments surrounded by love which has led us to discover, experience and live more deeply what love is all about: Love is giving, caring, fulfilling, forgiving, and being aware of those who are hurting — and responding. It is the path of meaning that is the right road to heaven. We know this; we’ve experienced it. We know it is a rich and challenging journey to our promised home with God the Father, Jesus the Holy Spirit, Mary, and all the beautiful people we’ve met who validate our journey and give us living examples of their love: God’s Love. Today’s readings present past encounters that are wonderful reflections for you and me. We need these encouragements and support. We need each other. We need others’ talents and insights. We need their company. This is our journey: never alone, always with God.

Today’s first reading is from St. Peter, the key figure and first spokesperson of the fledgling Christian movement as it begins to materialize into a community of believers. Before this is the Pentecost event, when the Holy Spirit fills the disciples with God’s presence, love and direction. Peter had been afraid, running from Pilate, the Roman soldiers and the crowd. He had denied that he knew Jesus. Now, just days later, he declares that the Davidic royal promises have been fulfilled in Jesus, this descendant of David. The Jewish community of scholars and prophets believes that God’s promised age of fulfillment will be inaugurated by signs, wonders, and miracles showing the mighty power of God. Peter tells us that Jesus performed these miracles. We heard them in the readings throughout Lent, exemplified by the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Since such power can only come from God, these actions are irrefutable proof that God is working through Jesus and the eschatological age of fulfillment is dawning. (Jewish literature used this term to affirm the promise and time of the Messiah.) Peter next describes Jesus’ death and resurrection. He dies at the feet of both the Jewish people and the Roman officials. This happens according to God’s plan and is completed when God raises Jesus from the dead. Jesus is God. He showed God’s love, forgiveness and presence. Redemption through Christ was determined before the foundation of the world, but it will be revealed fully in the final age. When will this happen? Very soon, they thought — in reality, Jesus told us to live in faith with hope. How are we doing? Are we sidetracked by the world we live in? How is our hope and belief in heaven? How are we living now?!

The Gospel account presents a surprise — new ways in which the risen Jesus is present and experienced. Luke reaffirms these ways: community, prayer, scripture and the Eucharist. Today’s experience comes as a “community” — a pair of believers — is traveling together to Emmaus. They assert that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. They listen to Him but do not recognize him until the “breaking of the bread” — the original name for the Eucharist, the Mass. Reread this passage. It is a story with a message of radical amazement that inspired Christ's followers and today’s believers to follow Him wherever life takes us. The whole account is amazing, underscoring several important issues:

• Glory comes by way of suffering.
• Remembering the tradition is not enough.
• Every new situation is different.
• We come to know Christ in the breaking of the bread.

Do I realize the importance of Mass, the reception of the Eucharist: Experiencing the amazing, individual encounter with Jesus? Do I? Do we? Pray, listen!

So I reflect on:

• When I come to the Eucharist, am I reflecting on all God does and has done for me? Am I feeling judgmental of those I see or don’t see? Do trials tell me about who God is?
• Jesus came into the world because it was dearly needed. Today we look around us at places like Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine — so many troubled spots of violence, hatred, revenge, narcissistic behavior ... where deliberately not helping the hurting, despised and less fortunate is taking place. Does this tell me where God is? What does He see in me? Prayer and Eucharist call me!

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“The account of a journey is beautiful and reassuring, for it describes how the outward journey and the interior one can assist each other in keeping our faith intact. The two disciples start their trek in very poor shape, ‘looking sad,’ and they are moving in the wrong direction — away from Jerusalem. Jesus enters unseen and unrecognized, as He so often does. With skill and tenderness He cajoles them into telling their story. They didn’t even have to find Him — He found them.”