Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2026. The Gospel of St. Luke 24:35-48. Theme: The Unseen But Very Present Jesus
The story of the disciples on a 7-mile walk to the village of Emmaus from Jerusalem took place on the first Easter Sunday. The two of them were heartbroken and confused because they didn't understand how the One whom they believed to be the glorious Messiah could have been overcome by his enemies and put to death. It was supposed to be the other way around. At least that’s how everyone imagined it would be once the Messiah arrived. In addition they were utterly bewildered by early morning reports from some women in their group who claimed that this Messiah had risen from the dead. We know that they were having a highly animated exchange because the Greek word in this Gospel that our reading translates as “debating” actually means “bickering and arguing". And that’s not at all surprising in times of confusion and trauma.
But Emmaus isn’t just about disciples wandering about in a state of depression and disappointment. The deeper lesson in the story is about how Jesus doesn’t abandon us when we go through tough times of spiritual and emotional suffering. It has something to say to those who have become disillusioned and struggle with questions or even doubts about Christ and Christianity. It assures us that Jesus wishes to accompany us on these painful parts of our faith journey just as He does in the happier times. And it teaches us that in doing so Christ doesn’t force Himself into our lives. Notice how He didn’t push his way into the disciples’ company whether it was about joining them on their walk or spending the night with them once they reached their destination. He gave them the space they needed to make a free personal choice. He waited for them to ask and invite. And the same is true as to how He acts with us today.
This reminds me of a popular painting of Jesus that shows Him knocking at the front door of a home. There are actually many versions of it around today. But in all of them, if you look closely, you’ll see that there is no doorknob on the outside. It can only be opened from the inside by the one who lives there. It’s a great visualization about how Jesus respects our freedom. He truly wants to be with us as we go through difficulty and suffering, but He waits for us to open the door and allow Him to step into our lives. And while He awaits our decision, He makes Himself available to us, just as He did for those disciples on the road, so that like them we too can ask questions, express our frustrations, and unburden ourselves. And of course He wants to stay with us just as He did with them, bringing comfort and consolation simply by His Presence. But Jesus allows all of this to happen in our own timeframe and on our own terms, so to speak, so that our response to Him will be genuine and free because freedom is really the only way that true relationships can exist and grow, including our relationship with Him.
When the disciples reached the end of their journey they still had no idea as to the true identity of their traveling Companion. But there was something about Him that was so appealing and comforting that they didn't want to part company. The way He had explained the Scriptures to them made the smoldering flame of faith begin to burn once again in their hearts. Through Him they were regaining a sense of hope and their disillusionment was diminishing. And so they asked Him to stay and spend the night. And once they freely extended this invitation Christ most wonderfully responded to their need, enabling them to open wide the doors of their hearts to Him.
When they sat down together for their evening meal, the Stranger unexpectedly did what they knew Jesus had done at His last supper with His apostles. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. And suddenly… BAM! They recognized the Man. It was Jesus! And they were once again filled with firm faith and spiritual joy! And then just as suddenly…BAM! He disappeared! But notice most importantly that the Gospel does not say that Jesus left them, only that He was no longer visible to their eyes. That's because the Risen Lord was indeed still there, still truly present to them, but now hidden under the appearance of the Eucharistic Bread.
And that brings us to an all-important closing highlight of the Emmaus experience. Through the recounting of this story in his edition of the Gospel, St. Luke wants us to realize that though Jesus is risen and ascended to Heaven, He still abides with us. He still remains among us. He makes His Presence known to those who take time to seek Him through prayer and meditation on the Word of God. And He reveals Himself in a mystical way to those who mindfully receive Him with faith in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. And most of all, the Emmaus experience gives us great hope that even when things seem to be going wrong in daily life, Jesus is right there walking beside us even if we don’t see Him with our eyes. We may not recognize His presence but He is there, knocking on the door of our heart, awaiting our permission to enter and remain with us.
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