THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD, APRIL 05, 2026

Joigny, FRANCE - Stained (19th century) glass of Jesus and the Emmaus pilgrims.

Afternoon or evening mass, Luke 24:13-35

... As they approached the village to which they were going,

he gave the impression that he was going on farther.

But they urged him, "Stay with us,

for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."

So he went in to stay with them.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table,

he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, and gave it to them.

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,

but he vanished from their sight.

Then they said to each other,

"Were not our hearts burning within us

while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem

where they found gathered together

the eleven and those with them who were saying,

"The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"

Then the two recounted 

what had taken place on the way

and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

REFLECTION

 "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."

We have spent the last 40 days walking with Jesus thorough Lent.

First with the temptation in the desert 6 Sundays ago. Then the Transfiguration; the Samaritan woman; the blind man; Lazarus resurrection; the entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the institution of the Priesthood, the Eucharist, and the Church on Holy Thursday; the Passion of Our Lord; the descent to Hades; and today, His glorious Resurrection.

Jesus has shared with us our humanity. He has been with His friends, and wept for Lazarus; understood the situation of the Samaritan woman; and cured the blind man. Through these Gospels, He is moving us towards Jerusalem and to the Cross that saves us.

Now, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we don't want to let go of Him.

To sustain His disciples, He breaks the bread and blesses it. What a wonderful gift Jesus gives us! Giving us Himself in the Holy Communion so He can be physically with us and sustain us through life!

Let's give thanks to God for His infinite generosity towards us, especially for the gift of the Priesthood. Without it, we would not have the means to receive Him in the form of the Eucharist.

Wishing you a blessed Easter! God bless y'all!