April 8, 2026

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

The Easter Season – the weeks from Easter to the Pentecost. During the Easter Season, at every Mass, the first Scripture reading is always from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is a book of the New Testament. It tells the story of those first disciples of Jesus who formed and created our Church. These are the stories of the early Christian communities. They brought Jesus and his message to their world. Acts also tells us of the missionary efforts of St. Paul.

During this Easter Season, the Gospel readings are the familiar stories of the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. These Gospels tell us how the Lord’s Resurrection transformed this world of ours. The world was filled with the joy and happiness of our God as the Lord rose to new life. The voice of our early Church was St. Augustine. He proclaimed that Christ truly rose in body. Death was conquered. His message for us and the people of all time are also called to rise with Jesus spiritually. The voice of the Church in our time is Thomas Merton. Merton teaches us that Jesus rose not only from the tomb but in the depth of our own soul, allowing Jesus to transform us all.

So, as we read Scripture and pray, we must find ourselves in each of the Resurrection stories. These stories are about us now. We will come to realize how the Resurrection of Jesus transforms us each and every day. Jesus reaches out to us now as he did on the day of his Resurrection. We have a place in the story of the first Easter.

Let me consider with you my favorite Easter story – the Emmaus story. That story tells us that on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, two of Jesus’ disciples were traveling home, walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. They were upset. They had experienced the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus.

Jesus – the risen Jesus – comes up and walks with them. We are told that they do not recognize him. As they walk together Jesus gently teaches them from the Scriptures that the Messiah will suffer for all. It is only later that they recognize that this is Jesus, now risen, who is spending time with them. This risen Jesus stops with them at their home, and as they break bread at their table, they realize that this is truly Jesus.

This is our story. I believe that Jesus truly approaches us – you and I – each day. Jesus walks with us. Jesus comes to support us, to guide us. Like those two on the road to Emmaus, we may not recognize the presence of Jesus, that it is Jesus who is reaching out to us. I believe that the Lord touches our lives in many magnificent inspirations as the Lord did on that resurrection day staying with those two on the road. So, I urge you, may you all open your hearts and welcome the risen Jesus who longs to be with you to transform you in every way.

So, each day should be your Emmaus day. Jesus longs to walk with us all. Each time we pray, he will be with us. Each time we participate at Mass, he will be with us, right next to us. Each time to receive Holy Communion, it is the Lord who truly comes to be with us. Each day Jesus finds us on our road to Emmaus. Thank you, Jesus.