Sunday the 19th of April 2026 - The Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14, 22-33/ Ps 16(15):1-2a, 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11/1 Peter 1:17-21/ Luke 24:13-35

In the Gospel passage today, two disciples are walking down the road to Emmaus when an extraordinary encounter changes their lives for ever. They are joined by none other than the Creator of the Universe, the Saviour of the world, but because He looks like any other traveller on an ordinary road, they do not recognise Him. We might ask ourselves: How often does God join us in the ordinary moments of our lives, and we just walk on without recognising Him? This encounter is not just something that happened to others long ago, it is a living and breathing reality for us today. Jesus is walking beside us now, ready to set our hearts on fire, to explain His word in scripture, and to give Himself to us in the Eucharist.

The two travelling disciples in the Gospel were despondent over the recent happenings in Jerusalem. They thought they had lost their hope forever. As they walked and discussed these events, Jesus joined them, although they were prevented from recognising Him. Jesus did not leave them alone in their sadness and confusion. He met them where they were on their journey. As they walked, Jesus took them through all the scripture that was about Himself. He opened up the living Word of God to them. Although their hearts burned within them as they heard Jesus speak, they still failed to recognise Him.

On reaching Emmaus, the travellers invited Jesus to stay and eat with them. It was a simple invitation from their hearts, but it changed everything. It was as Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it for them during their meal that their eyes were finally opened. They suddenly recognised the risen Jesus who had been walking, talking, and eating with them all along. But then, the very moment they recognised Jesus in the flesh, He vanished from their sight. Filled with joy, relief and excitement, the two disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem. They hurried back to report what they had seen, only to find that Jesus had appeared there also.

Why did Jesus vanish from their sight at the exact moment they recognised Him? This is a question that makes sense of the faith we have in the Eucharist, the reason we come to Mass. Jesus vanished from the sight of the two disciples because He no longer needed to be with them in His physical form. He was now entirely present in the bread broken for the meal. We can have this exact same encounter with the risen Jesus every time we gather for Mass. Jesus is truly present with us as we gather together as His Church. He is walking with us, comforting us, and guiding us through all of our own disappointments and joys. Jesus is present to us in the word of God read to us in the passages of scripture, including the Psalm. He is especially present when the words of the Gospel are proclaimed. Just like on the road to Emmaus, He is actively speaking to our burning hearts.

Then comes the climax of our worship together. In the breaking of bread, the Eucharist, Jesus becomes fully present to us in body, blood, soul, and divinity. The Real Presence of Jesus becomes truly and substantially fully present under the appearance of bread and wine. This is not a symbol or a memory. The Church teaches that in the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It is the greatest treasure that God has given to His Church. The Creator of the universe gives Himself to us totally in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. He stops at nothing to be intimately close to us. It is the same reality for us at Mass today as it was for those disciples in Emmaus. Jesus gives Himself to us totally and completely at the altar in our church.

Saint Peter in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles is standing boldly before the crowd, filled with the Holy Spirit, declaring the mighty victory of Jesus. Peter reminds the people that it was impossible for Jesus to be held by death. Death could not contain the Author of Life. The resurrection changes human history, and it changes our history as well. In the second reading Peter writes again, reminding us of the incredible price of our salvation. We were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a spotless, unblemished lamb. God loves us so much that He offered His only Son to purchase our freedom from sin. The psalmist prophesied this incredible joy in the Psalm which sings; "You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence". That fullness of joy is what God desires for our lives here, now, and for ever.

If we truly opened our eyes to this miraculous reality, if we approached the altar with total awe, trust, and expectation, we would experience the unmatched power, purpose, and peace that God intends for each of us. Our lives would be transformed. We would leave church rushing out with excitement, just like the disciples rushed back to Jerusalem. We would be unstoppable in sharing the good news of the Risen Lord.

God is inviting us to a life of profound communion with Him. He is inviting us into an adventure of faith that will challenge us but ultimately fulfil us. To achieve this communion, we must open our hearts to the Risen Lord with everything we have, hold nothing back from God who holds nothing back from us. When we see the consecrated host lifted by the priest let our eyes be opened. Recognise the Risen Lord looking back at us with infinite, unconditional love. Let our hearts burn within us as we receive Communion. Let our "Amen" be a resounding "Yes" to the gift God is offering.

Let us recognise Jesus present in the breaking of bread. Let us receive Him with overwhelming joy and let us hurry to share that joy with the whole world.

God Bless Brendan