𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑑𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟’𝑠 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑘
April 19, 2026
Third Sunday Of Easter, Year A

Dear Parishioners,

Grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

When the story starts, they are returning from Jerusalem. They are disappointed, as their expectations of Jesus have been shattered. Jesus has been arrested, condemned, and crucified – the usual punishment for rebels. They have heard the woman’s news of his resurrection, and their friends have checked out the story and found it to be true. How strange: they know of the resurrection, and yet they are disappointed!

Working in the Roman barracks, they have probably been hoping for an insurrection, certainly not a resurrection. What is the use of a resurrection? Lazarus had been raised from the dead, but had that changed the world? No. They yearned for the restoration of Israel’s old national glory and pride.

While they were talking about this, Jesus approaches and walks beside them. He asks what they are talking about. “They stopped short, their faces downcast” (24:17). They cannot believe that he has not heard about the things that have been happening in Jerusalem recently? “What things?”, he asks, and they begin to tell him the story – his own story!

Jesus responds and explains the role of the Messiah. He uses their own sacred Hebrew scriptures. He quotes prophets. He points out that the Messiah is about far more than their own national and provincial interests. The Messiah is about all nations, and about the whole world. He widens their outlook. We do not know exactly what he says, but the events of the Last Supper how, when the Messiah broke the bread, he was inviting the disciples to recognize who he really was, and understand his true mission.

When they arrive at the village, Jesus implies that he wants to go on, but they ask him to stay and he does. They share their meal with him and, during the meal, Jesus takes their bread and breaks it in the same way he has just described to them. Instantly, they recognize him, but he suddenly disappears from sight. We should remember this each time we take part in the Eucharist, for Jesus still invites each of us to recognize him as the Messiah, and to share in his messianic mission.

Have a blessed and a happy Sunday!

𝑅𝑒𝑣. 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑦, 𝑂.𝑃.