Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

April 19, 2026

Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

We encounter two disciples in today’s reading who had followed Jesus, trusted his message, and had hoped he was the one who would change their lives and their world. We see them withdrawing, going back to their former lives, unable to understand what had happened. But we think they were with Jesus, how could they not get it?

But if we are honest with ourselves, we are the same. We are confused and frightened by what we see happening in our world today. Wars that destroy the lives of others and threaten our security. Divisions in our families, our faith communities, our nation that make us question our future. And so, we fear, or withdraw, and forget that we are standing in our faith in the Resurrection.

The disciples encounter the resurrected Christ. Gradually, their minds and hearts open to a new way of knowing. And through the breaking of the bread, they are given a new experience of who Christ is now. They are transformed and rush to share the good news!

We do not need to walk down a dusty road to share a similar experience. At each liturgy, we come with our cares and fears and walk with others who are burdened as well. We encounter not a stranger but the Christ we have known since our Baptism, who invites us to listen again to the story. Peter’s proclamation today gives us the essential outline.

We are challenged to recognize Christ in the bread and wine, broken and shared, so that we might experience his presence among us today. A Presence that enables us to embrace both the suffering and joy life offers us and missions us to bring life to all we meet.

Am I slow to believe?

Let Us Pray

Lord, open our eyes to recognize You in the strangers we meet along the way. May we, through the guidance of the Spirit, be faithful witnesses to the hope and promise of the Resurrection. Amen.