3rd Sunday of Easter

by Fr. Michael D. Accinni Reinhardt, MA, Mdiv, MS  |  04/19/2026  |  Pastoral Corner

Amidst all of the post-resurrection accounts, we cannot help but understand that Jesus is out to make a point, appearing behind locked doors, telling St. Thomas the Apostle to place his fingers inside his wounds. I can imagine, though it was not stated, Jesus telling St. Thomas, While you’re at it, go deep enough inside so you may touch my heart. After all, Jesus, who had been telling his Apostles everything all along, told Peter he could walk on water, it was best to cast the net on the other side of the boat, and even asking them “will you be my disciple” Wow and yet as humanness goes they still struggled to see him or even recognize him as they once did.

 There is something different about Jesus in his resurrected state; he had not yet ascended to the Father in heaven, the fullness of the paschal mystery was still unfolding before them, and Jesus’ mission was not complete, because He still had work to do in getting his followers to gain a deeper vision connecting the earthly sacrifice to our eternal reward. This is the great Easter mystery unfolding, and for us, it is a continued invitation to respond. Jesus is appearing to the Twelve in such vivid ways because he really wants a response. He wants them to each have skin in the game, just as he has done. It’s with eyes wide open, and a new felt zeal, the encounter on the Road to Emmaus is so profound with Cleopas whose wife Mary was at the foot of the cross, along with Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and John the Beloved, and then Cleopas making the journey with an unnamed disciple who are perplexed that this man on the way had no clue of the events they recounted taking place in Jerusalem. The crux of this encounter lies in the spirit of these disciples being lifted, as the Lord is present in their midst, stirring up in their hearts a burning faith, love, and hope, which is the fullness of the Easter message. The disciples were amazed and mesmerized in wonder as they were able to stay with the Lord a while longer, and finally see him, and recognize him in the breaking of the bread. Never underestimate the power of the Word and Sacrament that each time we come to church, we arrive on the Road to Emmaus, are stirred-up in his Word and in the Breaking of the Bread experienced in his true presence in the Eucharist.

Keep Easter Alive, Fr. Michael