April 19, 2026 - The Reverend Omar Rodriguez de la O

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Third Sunday of Easter, Year A, RCL

• Acts 2:14a,36-41
• 1 Peter 1:17-23
• Luke 24:13-35
• Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17

https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Easter/AEaster3_RCL.html

Transcript

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In el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. Amen. Please be seated. In today's gospel, Jesus has already died and risen and appears to his disciples as they walked sadly from Jerusalem to Emmaus, explaining the scriptures regarding his death and resurrection. While they couldn't recognize him at first, their eyes were open when he broke the bread. They recognized the Lord before he vanished. And they returned to Jerusalem full of gladness. And yet, as Jesus walked alongside them, he asked, What are you talking about while you walk? Seriously? He asked him something that he already know. They stood static, appearing hopeless. One of them, named Cleopatra, replied, Are you the only one living in Jerusalem who is unaware of all that happens here these days? What things? Jesus asked, again, asking the same thing that he already knows. The thing concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a mighty prophet indeed, and word before God and all the people. How our chief priests and rulers condemn him to death and crucify him, they reply. The reply of Jesus was kinda hard. Oh foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophet has spoken. What is not necessary for Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory? And he explained to them what was spoken about him in all the scriptures, started with Moses and going on to all the prophets. He gestured as if to continue as they go closer to Solomon. They were heading to stay with us for this newly evening, and the day is almost over. These two disciples beg to Jesus. So Jesus, enjoy them. We keep hearing the gospel when Jesus sat down at the table with them. He took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, started to distribute it. Then the eyes open. They recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. They say to one another, We're not our hearts burning with us as while he spoke to us on the road and explained the scripture to us. Now there are many parallels between the road or ML described in the gospel in our own journeys. Just to give you an example, one of the parallels of them. For Latin Americans, this passage represent hope and liberation in the face of suffering. It symbolizes the shift from despair leaving Jerusalem to mission going back to the community, where Jesus makes himself present in the midst of sadness, interpret history towards the eye of the poor, and he recognized the breaking of the bread, the context of the disciple's sadness as described in the text, speak to the experience for so many Hispanics here in this country and across Americas, the Americas. Feeling wounded, disappointed, disappointed by the death of colonization and the injustices. And the journey in this parallel is the flee, the government's failures. And there is more parallels among this gospel of today. Jesus in this passage reinterpret the scriptures from the viewpoint of the suffering Messiah rather than from a position of power, giving us the example of how we the church understand the gospel or should understand the gospel from the point of a suffering messiah and not for a privileged position of power. Let's take a few minutes and join me. Let's close our eyes and let's imagine that we are one of these two disciples making our way to Emmaus. Just thinking about it. Walking, talking with your companion. Thinking about the things we do not understand in today's society and what's going on. We might have questions even about our faith. We might feel hopeless and overwhelmed. But what is going on? Too many negative news we hear as we walk. But suddenly Jesus comes and starts walking beside us as all these bad things is going through our minds, and he begins to speak to us. But we get so caught up with the bad things that we are unable to recognize that he is walking beside us and talking to us. But don't worry, the time is going to come that we're going to recognize Jesus as we walk. Just as we can put ourselves in the shoes of one of these two disciples and spirit what happened socially today, this also could apply in our own life. My friend, there's nothing wrong to have a question about faith. The question about faith is the greatest opportunity to deepen into God and to learn more about Him. So going back to the text, Jesus aimed to help these two disciples understand the social realities that they were facing and also make a connection with them more closer. It is evident that the disciples were unable to identify him as they walk. But the question is, if this is a culture of blindness that prevents us from seeing our neighbor in today's society, what keeps us from seeing God at work in our lives? Why can't we recognize God in our neighbor? The disciples were affected by their master's death. Science. The reality was hearts. They failed to recognize Jesus, whom they have followed and adored for years. But in the middle of all commotion, how we can recognize God, how we can perceive God while we are suffering. And yet, this might raise a lot of questions about suffering. Like God, where are you? But the answers for all the questions about the suffering that we are walking and talking about will emerge when we recognize Jesus that is walking beside us and he's going to feed us at the table. To pay close attention to his teachings. Just hearing him, listen to him. As a lot of times our minds are so involved in the problems that surround us, the sufferings and so on. Some people walk blind because they are unable to see God among the indication of death and sorrow. While others walk as it is blind because they close their eyes to the overwhelming realities of oppression and suffering that others experience. He didn't start talking about theology and going deeper about what Moses said. No, he just started talking about the simple things of life. As he also does that today. In order to comprehend and go deepen in our faith, we need to understand first the simple things that we are living in in our walk, in our journey. But Jesus also is coming to the road. Also to give us the tools to help those in need. Because we are also to we go we're also going to sit down at the table and invite them to partake. My friends, there are many people among us seeking our word of a cargment that help them go to their grave. They go with their head bow. Many people have lost hope, even lost hope in the church. But we are going to make the difference. Standing by their side, walking by their side, and revealing the love of Jesus and his compassion. We just need to keep walking, keep having the conversation with our neighbor, to know our neighbor better. Jesus also walk along us and make us understand the suffering of our world. And at the breaking of the bread, like in a few moments, we will recognize Jesus and we'll all be fed and receive the hope and his love. Amen.