Reflection on 3rd Sunday of Easter Year A

 

God is good all the time.

We all make journeys in life. Some journeys leave us tired and exhausted. Others fill us with joy and happiness. What matters is not just the journey itself, but how we experience it—and who is with us along the way.

I remember once traveling from India to Madrid, Spain, with a connecting flight through Qatar. I was excited—I had a window seat and was curious to see who would sit next to me. A couple approached, but when they saw me, the woman quietly said in Spanish, “I cannot sit next to him; he’s Asian.” I understood everything, but I remained silent. The flight attendant kindly moved them to another seat.

And you know what? I was happy. Instead of one seat, I had three. I could rest comfortably, eat without inconvenience, and move around freely. That journey became peaceful and pleasant.

I could have focused on the hurt, the rejection, the discrimination. I could have allowed that moment to ruin my journey. But instead, I chose to see it differently. And because of that, the rest of my trip—and even my meetings afterward—went well.

Why? Because God was with me. Jesus was with me.

Today’s Gospel speaks about another journey—the journey of two disciples traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Jerusalem is the city of God, the place where Jesus told His disciples to remain, promising that they would receive the Holy Spirit there. Yet these disciples were walking away from Jerusalem. They were leaving hope behind.

As they walked, they spoke about the events of the past week—the suffering and death of Jesus. To them, it was a tragedy. Their hopes had been shattered. But what they saw as tragedy was, in fact, the glory of God unfolding.

How often does this happen in our own lives? We make journeys, and our conversations become filled with disappointment, fear, and negativity. We see only tragedy, while God is revealing His glory in ways we do not yet understand.

As they walked, Jesus Himself joined them, though they did not recognize Him. He listened to them, walked with them, and gently explained the Scriptures. Their hearts began to burn within them, even though they still did not know it was Him.

At the end of the journey, Jesus appeared ready to leave. But the disciples said, “Stay with us.” That invitation changed everything.

Jesus does not force His way into our lives. He waits for an invitation. Just as we feel welcomed when someone invites us into their home, Jesus desires to be invited into our hearts and families.

When they invited Him, He stayed. And when He broke the bread, their eyes were opened—they recognized Him.

This is the heart of our faith.

In the Holy Eucharist, we experience the same two moments:

• The breaking of the Word, when Scripture is proclaimed and God speaks to us.
• The breaking of the Bread, when Jesus reveals Himself in the Eucharist.

Like the disciples, we are called to listen deeply. When the Word of God is proclaimed, we should feel that God Himself is speaking—not merely the priest, but Christ speaking to us. Our hearts, too, should burn within us.

And at the altar, in the breaking of the bread, our eyes are opened to recognize Jesus truly present.

This is why we must remain close to the altar.

I recall an incident from a seminary. During Holy Mass, there was a strong earthquake. The building shook, and dust began to fall from above. The seminarians, frightened, ran outside, fearing the church might collapse. But the priest remained at the altar and continued the Mass.

Afterward, they asked him, “Father, were you not afraid? Why did you not run?”

He replied, “My dear brothers, where are you running? If you must die, die at the altar. Never run away from the altar.”

That is a powerful witness. The altar is where we receive nourishment—for our body, our soul, and our spirit. It is where we encounter Christ most deeply.

So today’s journey reminds us:
Do not walk away from Jerusalem. Do not walk away from the Church. Stay where the Holy Spirit is given. Stay close to the altar.

If we encounter Christ daily—in His Word and in the Eucharist—our lives will be transformed. Our journeys will no longer be seen as tragedies, but as part of God’s glory unfolding within us.

As we celebrate this Holy Eucharist, let us ask for the grace to recognize Jesus walking with us, speaking to us, and revealing Himself to us.

May our hearts burn within us.
May our eyes be opened.
And may our lives reflect His glory.

May God bless us all. Amen.