Third Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 19, 2026 (EPISODE- 581)​

Third Sunday of Easter. Year A - Sunday, April 19, 2026 (EPISODE- 581)

Image Credit-https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Br0uL2IqoqucQOGTZXrX/as-jesus-sits-at-table-with-two-other-disciples-he-holds-up-a-small-circular-flatbread-and-breaks-it?ru=Paul-Evangelion   

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

 

Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/Br0uL2IqoqucQOGTZXrX/as-jesus-sits-at-table-with-two-other-disciples-he-holds-up-a-small-circular-flatbread-and-breaks-it?ru=Paul-Evangelion    

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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Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 12, 2026 (EPISODE-580 )​

Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 12, 2026 (EPISODE-580 )

Readings for Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday
FIRST READING: Acts 2:42-47
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting."
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 1:3-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
GOSPEL: John 20:19-31

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2125590809. Painting. Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas.- Catholic church. Togo. 06-30-2014 -Important information -Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto

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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for the Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 12, 2026, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-2a-second?si=4ed0218014b144b99e6a38decfc6ebbd&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing   (EPISODE-580 )
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This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, when we recall the absolute mercy Jesus has for all humanity. Today, we know our Lord is certainly worth trusting in, and all his promises are true, and we can thank St Thomas for asking Christ to confirm this for all future generations, including us here and now. 

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This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity. Speaking of God's divine mercy, it is more profound than any human mercy or compassion one could imagine. We simply cannot downplay the significance of how different Jesus' reunion with His disciples is after He rose from the dead compared to the world's expectations.

After all, Jesus had been betrayed and abandoned by His most ardent followers and almost all of His disciples. Only a few women stayed with Him through it all, and the disciple John. Jesus' chosen disciples mostly scattered in fear, and the one Jesus chose to be the rock on which He would build His church denied Him three times in a moment of fear.

Now Christ is risen, and He returns to meet them. If this were just a worldly, earthly drama, one would expect that there'd be revenge, retribution, and at least an extended session of guilt trips and finger-pointing, but no. There's not a hint of judgment in our Lord's return.

He doesn't even punish Thomas for his doubt and demands that he would not believe that our Lord had indeed risen until he could see it with his own eyes and touch Him with his own hands. Christ meets Thomas where he's at and shows him what he needs to be reassured. He shows him His hands and His side.

That is compassion. That is mercy. It's also service and love.

These are God's ways, which are so very different from many of the world's ways. In the Eastern narratives, the risen Jesus is encountered by different disciples in different situations and in different ways. Mary Magdalene meets Jesus but doesn't recognise Him initially and mistakes Him for a gardener.

She only recognises the risen Jesus when He calls her by name, Mary. The two disciples travelling along the road towards Emmaus didn't realise who this stranger was until they saw Him break the bread; then they realised that their hearts had been burning all along the road, but they had not recognised the signs of Christ's presence. But the disciples would get better and better at recognising Christ in the Eucharist, in His word, and in the stranger, and in the burning energy of the good news of God.

And then, today, some people don't recognise Jesus until they touch the wounds of the suffering one, as Thomas does when he touches the risen Christ. May we continue to recognise Christ's presence whenever we touch the woundedness of others around us and offer support and strength. St. Thomas gets a bit of a bad rap.

Really he's quite an inspiring saint, filled with passion and zeal, and he must have been terribly disappointed when Christ was executed. But the common interpretation of this scene in today's gospel of St. Thomas doubting is that he doubts Jesus has been raised from the dead. But if we look at this incident very carefully, it could be argued that, in fact, it's not Jesus whom Thomas doubts; rather, Thomas is expressing doubt about his fellow disciples.

In fact, when Jesus appears seven days later, Thomas has the opportunity to share in the experience of the risen Lord, and like the others, he immediately confesses Easter faith and more. So this passage can also mean, "don't be tempted to doubt the disciples' proclamation." This is the church's proclamation, consistent throughout two thousand years of history.

Jesus is truly risen. He's risen in body. Even if we've not seen it for ourselves, even if we haven't touched the very wounds of the risen Christ, we trust in the testimony of the apostles who did see, who did touch his hand and side, and took broken bread from his hands and ate it, and whose words are now written in scripture so that we can share in the message and believe, and also share fully in the life of the risen Lord that Jesus offers to all of us.

The first reading gives us a picture of the early Christian community as it grows in numbers and strength, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The apostles are rightly shown to be doing what Jesus did in his ministry. Jesus is working in and through them.

The first reading mentions that they all met by common agreement, and it illustrates, in the first reading, some of the many ways in which the Christian community is a powerful source of Christ's healing for those in need. We need the community, and we need that important gathering together to unite our hearts and minds so that Christ and his gospel will continue to become more and more part of our lives and selves. We know implicitly that coming together as the body of Christ, the church, is never an added extra.

There's no such thing as a solo Christian. There may be Christians, for necessity or circumstances, who work individually, but we're still united by a common bond with Christ and with one another. We are the church.

Together we are the body of Christ. The community of disciples, the church, ensures that we're always one in Christ, not merely walking to the beat of our own drum, not making up our faith and belief as we go, but we all share the one faith and the one union with Christ. In a world where individualism is strong and deeply valued, the idea of being united and focused on unity in Christ, while at the same time not denying the value of the individual dignity of the person, but really valuing the unity in diversity, is a careful balancing act, and it's not to be taken lightly.

Jesus wants us to be truly one in him. He wants to unite us in communion. In a communion of his loving relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, he's inviting us into his deep inner life of God, who is Trinity.

Jesus wants us to be united in his belief and experience as the risen Lord, who invites us to share in his life, his family, and his kingdom forever. We pray for the grace to be people of unity and healing, not division, but people who constantly act and work to build up unity, to protect against fragmentation. This is a beautiful grace, and it's needed in the church.

It's needed in the world as well. We pray for the ability to see and act in ways that put the needs of others on par with our own, so that we might see the whole picture of our participation as one big family in Christ, not just lifelong solo acts. Thomas in the gospel is really, actually quite inspiring.

He doubted, but he didn't leave. He was still with the disciples the next week. He struggled, but the others didn't reject him, and Jesus strengthened him in his struggle and doubts, reassured him in the areas he was struggling in.

At times in life, we will have doubts and fears. Jesus shows us it's all right to trust in his promise, even when we don't always experience the confirmation of the truth with our own eyes, ears, and hands, as Saint Thomas did. We trust in those who have gone before us. Thomas is a gift to us in a way.

He shows us that the apostles were not gullible or foolish. What they experienced in the risen Jesus was the experience of sensible thinking people, just like you and me, people who didn't easily swallow everything that they were told. So naturally, Thomas, like a thinking person, would not quickly assume that Jesus had risen from the dead.

This didn't happen every day. It hardly ever happened. Nevertheless, they did experience Jesus' risen body and soul, and that's what they've steadfastly passed on from one generation to the next.

This is indeed the testimony of sensible, deep-thinking people who know what they mean and mean what they say. Today, we know that our Lord is certainly worth trusting in, and all his promises are true. We can thank Thomas for Jesus confirming that for all future generations, including us here and now.

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References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly; 

 

A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY Alice Camille;

 

Richard J. Leonard;

 

MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT'S HOMILY

 

Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2125590809. Painting. Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas.- Catholic church. Togo. 06-30-2014 -Important information -Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.


Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday  (Sunday, April 12, 2026) (EPISODE- 580)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}}

My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, so let us pause and reflect upon our sins, so as to rejoice in God's loving mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord, have mercy// You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. 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 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting."

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Preface I of Easter
Eucharistic Prayer II

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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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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 my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address:       Subscribe to mailing list to keep up-to-date

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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