​​​​​Holy Infant Catholic Church

Father Michaels Weekly Thoughts

WEEKLY THOUGHTS THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 19th 2026

Dear friends, welcome to the celebration of the Third Sunday of Easter. In the weekly Readings of the Easter season, the first Reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. We hear about the first community of believers, their lifestyle, dedication to prayer, breaking of bread and bearing witness to the risen Jesus or resurrection, the need to repent, to be baptized and confess Jesus as Savior.

In the first Reading AA 2: 14, 22-33 Peter with the 11, bears witness to the risen Jesus; “Commended by God with mighty deeds, signs and wonders yet was unjustly condemned to death on the cross, but God raised him up.”

In the Second Reading 1 Peter 1: 17-21 Jesus paid our ransom from death and sin with his precious blood. In Jesus, is our hope and salvation.

In the Gospel Luke 24: 13-35 we hear Jesus surprisingly appear to his two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Indeed, life is full of surprises. Jesus comes and joins in the conversation of the two disciples who were sad and disappointed with killing of Jesus on Good Friday. The two disciples shared their grief and sadness with the stranger who had questioned why they were sad. The stranger engaged them in conversation. He interpreted the recent events of the killing of Jesus as a fulfillment of the Scriptures – Moses and the Prophets.

The two disciples felt ease of the pain of grief and requested Jesus to stay with them as it was getting late. Jesus consented to the invitation. At the breaking of bread Jesus revealed himself to the two disciples and they were able to recognize him. Jesus vanished from their sight. The two disciples with great joy decided to walk back another 7 miles to Jerusalem to share the Good News of the Resurrection with the other disciples. The disciples also narrated how Jesus appeared to them when under locked doors and greeted them with the words; “Peace be with you.”

For us celebrating this Third Sunday of Easter after being nourished with the Word of God and the Eucharist, Jesus sends us on a mission to bear witness of the risen Jesus and the Good news of hope and salvation. May we share our faith, love and hope with conviction.

Let us make an effort to recognize the presence of Jesus in our life and in the people around us as we endeavor to extend to them small acts of generosity. Jesus rewarded the generosity of his two disciples with assurance of his resurrection.

Let us recognize the presence of Jesus as we partake of the Eucharist, private prayer, reading and meditation on the Scriptures. Let us make that prayer request; “Stay with us… our own prayer; in pain, fear and evening of our life.”  Let us endeavor to share our faith and the good news with others as part of our mission.

Have a great week and God bless.