From the Heart of the Shepherd

From the bulletin for The Third Sunday of Easter (2026 April 19)

April 19 - Third Sunday of Easter

This Sunday, we hear a Gospel that very much proclaims a New Beginning to humanity, as the Risen Christ restores all things, beginning with the hearts of these two disciples. In a deep sense, He is undoing the Fall of Man. Consider the following parallels between the walk to Emmaus and Genesis 3: 

• In Genesis 3, we have two individuals, a man and another (the woman). They have just received the Word of God in the form of various commands: to be fertile and multiply, to have dominion, to fill the earth, to name the animals, and to not eat of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. Into that initial situation of harmony, a third party slips between them: the serpent. A dialogue ensues, in which they are led to distrust in God’s word. In the course of which, the man and the woman close their hearts to God’s word. They eat the forbidden fruit. Their eyes are opened. Naked of grace, they are thrown into confusion and their hearts are hardened. When God comes to them to walk with them, they flee from him out of fear. They end by going out from the garden, strangers now to paradise, to creation, to God, and to their own selves. 

• In Luke 24, we have two individuals, a man (Cleopas) and another. They begin in a state of disillusionment and sorrow, going out from the gates (of Jerusalem). Naked of hope, they walk along. A third party insinuates Himself into their conversation: not the serpent, now, but Jesus. A dialogue ensues. In the course of which, the two open their hearts to God’s word. Rather than hardened, their hearts are softened to this “stranger;” in fact, they are set on fire. Far from fleeing from Him, they cling to Him, beginning Him to “stay with” them. At the inn, they eat, not of forbidden fruit, but broken bread. Or rather, of the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is the Eucharist. Their eyes are opened to the truth, to newfound joy. Clothed now in hope, they run out of the inn and back to Jerusalem. When the day began, the two were outcasts from everyone. It ends with them embraced by the communion of God on earth, the Church. 

Kind of cool! Of course, it’s more than a neat coincidence. It’s an icon of the redemption we have in Christ. This is what He came to do! Reverse sin. Bring us back to communion. Restore us to grace. 

But Emmaus does not just refer back to the Garden. It also points forward to us. It’s well known that the walk to Emmaus is also an icon of the Mass: it begins with the “introductory rites” and opening greeting/dialogue. It continues with the Liturgy of the Word, in which the Scriptures are opened and referred to Christ. At the midpoint there are the petitions (“Stay with us!”). And it all culminates in the “breaking of the bread’ (Liturgy of the Eucharist) and concludes with the joyful sending back into the world, to share the good news of the Risen Lord. 

But perhaps the most consoling aspect of the episode is simply the effect Jesus has on these two disciples. They begin the day dejected and downcast, grieving their failed hopes. They are at odds with each other, debating and disagreeing over what has just happened. And they are filled with a kind of pride by which they think they know what they are talking about…when in fact they have totally misunderstood. See the difference Jesus makes however! The transformation is evident in the fact that their hearts have been kindled by His words, that they do not wish to be parted from Him (and lay hold of Him so that He stay), that their eyes are opened to recognize Him, and that, like the prodigal son, they retrace their steps, running now, with newfound purpose and their hopes not just resurrected but fulfilled. Truly, the Lord has risen and has indeed He has redeemed Israel, beginning with these two Israelites!

The great news is that Jesus wants to do the same for each one of us. What do we need to do? Be open to welcoming that “voice that speaks the truth” whenever it meets with us on the way.

From the Heart of the Shepherd: The Sunday of Divine Mercy