Third Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 19, 2026 (EPISODE- 581)
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Readings for Sunday, April 19, 2026 - Third Sunday of Easter. Year A
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11. "Lord, you will show us the path of life."
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 1:17-21
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Luke 24:32). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord Jesus, make your word plain to us. Make our hearts burn with love when you speak.
GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for the Third Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 19, 2026, by clicking this link here: https://on.soundcloud.com/V9cj1uGPKnJIbVMAyg (EPISODE- 581)
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The reality, the physical truth of Christ's resurrection, and the mercy and love that it brings is for us and every generation. There's a story told that after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, some people, who still would not believe the evidence of their own eyes, seeing Lazarus walking around alive and well, still wanted to score some points against our Lord. So they said to him, " Why did you have to call out Lazarus's name? Surely you could have just said, come out, and he would have.” But our Lord replied, “If I didn't specifically name Lazarus, everyone entombed in the graveyard would have risen up at the command.”
That's an absolutely beautiful story. And it really expresses something fundamentally powerful and promising to each of us.
Our Lord's resurrection was a foretaste of what he promised to everyone who trusts in his word. Jesus' command to rise up and come out of the tomb is absolutely authoritative and utterly irresistible. This is the command we will all hear at the resurrection on the last day.
This is what all who have gone before us hear. This is the promise given by the risen Lord, whom we recognise in the breaking of the bread.
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This week's gospel is really wonderful.
It has such richness and many layers of meaning. The journey of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is also like a symbol of what happens each time we gather, as disciples of Jesus, at the Eucharist, when we listen to the word of God in the scriptures, and Christ indeed opens our minds and hearts to his word, and when Christ breaks the bread for us and becomes present to us in this special way in the Eucharist. We, too, recognise Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Another very special aspect of the Emmaus journey is that the disciples are talking with a fellow traveller along the road and show hospitality to this person. Unknown to them, this person is Jesus himself. It's no coincidence that Jesus becomes present to them in the outsider, to whom they show hospitality, and with whom they break bread together.
It's only then that their eyes are opened, and they recognise Jesus. If they had not shown hospitality to this person, if they'd let him go on his way, they may never have known who they were walking with and what he had to offer them. Jesus told us, what you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it to me.
Love God, love your neighbour as yourself. So hospitality, community and service are completely interconnected in Jesus' kingdom. This weekend's gospel reminds us that Jesus is always with us, always there to encourage us and give us new hope.
He gives us, his disciples, the sacraments to strengthen us on our journey. Jesus also gives his disciples the power to experience the forgiveness and mercy of God through reconciliation, assuring us of God's love, care, and healing. Our Lord walks along with us on our life's journey.
He's always interested in hearing us share our hopes and fears, our disappointments and failures. He's there to reassure us and give us strength and assure us that if we keep trusting in him, the love of God has the final word in our lives. And that final word lasts forever.
Whenever we gather at Mass, we come together as disciples and friends of Jesus. We break the bread, and we drink from the chalice. And we believe that this isn't just a sign of our connection to Jesus.
It's not just a sign that God forgives us, renews and commissions us. We believe that Jesus comes to us in what looks like bread and wine, and Jesus comes into our hearts. We become more and more part of Jesus' life.
Then we go out from this place into our daily lives to live his commandments and show love and care for each other. This is the unique message of the journey to Emmaus. And when we listen to the scriptures and reflect on the many ways in which Jesus is present and active in our lives, inviting us to listen to him and follow his ways, we too can say to each other, did not our hearts burn as Jesus talked to us along the road and explained the scriptures to us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Third Sunday of Easter. Year A (Sunday, April 19, 2026) (EPISODE- 581)
The Lord be with you.
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{{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of his compassion and love.}}
Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as we prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins.
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy//You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy//You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy.//
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11. "Lord, you will show us the path of life."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Luke 24:32). Alleluia, alleluia! Lord Jesus, make your word plain to us. Make our hearts burn with love when you speak.
Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: Preface II of Easter
EUCH PRAYER II
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{I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of his compassion and love.}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the Liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins Publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney, Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly, 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2026]
May God bless and keep you.
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