HOMILY 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER 2026
JOURNEY TO EMMAUS AND COMING TO EASTER FAITH
Lk 24.13-35 AA 2.14,22-33 1Pt 1.17-21
There is a real problem with false and distorted interpretation of the Gospel message in the broader world at present, where somehow there is said to be justification for violence and war from a Christian perspective, with the underlying themes that “the end justifies the means” and ‘might is right’. Then there is the thought that empathy is weakness, and no mercy should be shown to the downtrodden, or those who are different, whatever that might mean!
The images of precious and fragile blue planet Earth, from the recent successful Artemis moon mission, whatever one might think about the cost, surely remind us of our common humanity and home, as well as the necessity of preserving Earth’s finite resources, and working for peace and understanding between all people.
On Palm Sunday, in Christian tradition, calling for peace, Pope Leo XIV called “Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
In response, there’s an entrant for quote of the year, if not the century, with VP JD Vance stating: “I think it’s very, very important for the Pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology”!! Who’s talking about what?
And how can one not mention other bizarre and offensive verbal attacks on Pope Leo in recent days? His response has been simple, based on Christian faith and Gospel values. He says he is not a politician, but rather a moral leader, looking to preach “the message of the church… the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Says Italian Jesuit priest and journalist, Antonio Spadaro SJ: “What we are witnessing, then, is not a clash of personalities but the friction between two operating systems: On one side, a grammar of force: deterrence, national exceptionalism, the ‘providential use of power, a re-theologisation of politics, in which God is enlisted to bless the strong. On the other hand, a grammar of the Gospel: dialogues, moral limits, international law, the inviolable dignity of the innocent, the refusal to drag the name of God into the language of death… Leo’s response, on the flight to Algeria, is itself a small masterpiece of tone… ‘I speak of the Gospel, and I will continue to speak out loud against war.”
In National Catholic Reporter, it is further stated: “Leo’s trips show that he sees himself as a messenger of peace, seeking to preach Gospel values to entire nations, including their civil authorities.”
And, as Leo stated during his visit to Cameroon this week: “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants… The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild… Those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profits in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death… They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.” Is this not expressing the heart of Gospel values?
One criticism is that so many wars have been fought over religious differences, which is certainly true, but only as a result of total disregard for Gospel values, and more about ethnic and political disputes, with religion thrown in for bad measure! As has been said often enough: “Sometimes Baptism only goes skin deep”!!
Then, today we have Luke’s narrative of The Road to Emmaus, where the two disillusioned and downhearted ex-disciples of Jesus have lost faith and running away, still with the misguided delusion that they expected Jesus to ‘set Israel free’, as some sort of military Messiah, which he consistently denied, as he journeyed through to his fate as a Suffering Servant, proclaiming all the way, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
As the Jerome Biblical Commentary says: “The Lordship of Jesus is not known in acts of war or vengeance, or in dreadful and mighty signs, but is attained through a cross, and expressed in a meal, – an act of hospitality, peace, brotherhood and sisterhood.” Like Peter, these disciples who have lost faith, regain it, and are forgiven by Jesus, as they welcome him in. Unlike the women at the foot of the Cross, faithful to the end, and who are the first to bring the Easter message that Jesus lives, it takes time for these disciples to respond in faith, but, “Through their concern to provide hospitality to a stranger, the disciples’ sadness, foolishness, and slowness of heart, are transformed into joy, insight and joyful recommitment to Jesus’ way.”
Just when they think all is lost, they offer hospitality to the unknown stranger as their guest, and there is the turning point, where they finally recognize him in the breaking of the bread, but then he has disappeared from their midst. The experience is sufficiently enlightening for them, however, to do a U-turn and head back to Jerusalem, in order to share their good news story with the 11 apostles and companions (the word in fact means with bread, thus implying sharing together!) where Easter faith is confirmed and celebrated by all.
So they break bread together, in anticipation of the Eucharistic gatherings at the heart of the early Christian communities, and which we continue to do, as we gather in faith now.
Let’s remember once more, the first words of the Risen Jesus, appearing to the disciples in the closed room: “Peace be with you”, as we continue to spread the message of peace, through living our faith in word and action.
john hannon 19th April 2026
“Leo XIV has become the one figure in the current international landscape whom raw power cannot assimilate and cannot ignore. He has no army, no. treasury, no electoral base. He has a pulpit, a tradition and a tone… The freedom of Leo XIV is of a particular kind: disarmed and disarming. It has no weapons to surrender and therefore cannot be forced into surrender. It does not seek confrontation, and therefore cannot be dragged into confrontation. It judges by the exercise of power by a criterion that power does not control, and precisely for this reason, it unsettles those who would like the moral field to be as governable as the military one.” (Antonio Spadaro)
“Pope Leo XIV and the Archbishop of Canterbury have had the courage to speak out with great moral clarity, condemning the handful of warmongering tyrants imperilling the security of the entire world. We need more church leaders to speak out.” (Alan Patience)