3rd Sunday of Easter

by Fr. Don Kline, V.F.  |  04/19/2026  |  Letter from the Pastor

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus are grieving the death of the one in whom they had placed all their hope. They are suffering. The death of Jesus left them doubtful. The one who would liberate them from their suffering was brutally murdered and their hearts were broken, leaving them to deal with pain and disappointment. The disciples who once had faith in Jesus the Messiah, now believe that everything they hoped for in Him has ended with the cross. It is as if their joy has been stolen.

Perhaps you have been, or are currently, going through challenges that have left you feeling like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Perhaps you are grieving the death of someone you love very much. This can be extremely painful especially if you didn't get to say goodbye. Maybe you are experiencing financial challenges that have caused you to be afraid about your future. You may have been in a relationship where you spent so much time and energy only to find yourself alone and let down by the one you love. There are times in all our lives when God seems very close but there are also those moments of spiritual dryness and moral crisis that can seemingly cripple our walk with Our Lord, and cause us to feel like God has abandoned us. In those moments, it can be so difficult to trust and so easy to walk away from it all.

There is hope. Today, our Gospel reminds us that Jesus walks with us in our struggles. Jesus suffered, and He knows pain and sorrow. He experienced it all and more. But there is always hope. Just as Jesus walked with those despondent and despairing disciples, He encourages and accompanies each of us, especially in our sorrow and our suffering. Our challenge is to not ignore Him. Saint Paul, in the Letter to the Ephesians, affirms that Christians cannot live like pagans who live without God and without hope (cf. Eph 2:12). Let us not forget that although everything seems to end, Jesus is always there to guide us because He is alive, and once resurrected, He never dies again. Because of Jesus, death is dead and that means hope is alive.

We see this new life in Christ in the men, women, and children who received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil. Their faith and trust in Our Lord, their commitment despite the struggles and setbacks, their love for God and His Church, inspire me and all who are blessed to know them. These newest members of the Catholic faith are a blessing and a sign that the Holy Spirit is moving among God's people and inspiring hearts and minds to turn to Christ whose love is never ending. May our new brothers and sisters always know of our love and prayers for them. May they know they belong to God and His family. Our Lord walks with you now and always. You are never alone.

God Bless,

Fr. Don Kline