SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH, 2026
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
INTRODUCTION
Today’s gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus, overcome with
sadness, loss, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus, who was crucified,
would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them and then
opens their eyes in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our hearts burn
within us as the scriptures are proclaimed and Christ appears to us as bread is
broken and wine is poured. The story of Emmaus becomes the pattern of our
worship each Lord’s day.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of
bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING
ACTS 2:14a, 36-41
Today’s reading is the conclusion of Peter’s sermon preached following the giving
of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The center of his
preaching is the bold declaration that God has made the crucified Jesus both
Lord and Christ.
14a Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd]:
36 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made
him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to
the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them,
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that
your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For
the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone
whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other
arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that
day about three thousand persons were added.
PSALM
PSALM 116:1-4, 12-19
(Response) I will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 116:13)
1 I love the Lord, who has heard my voice,
and listened to my supplication,
2 for the Lord has given ear to me
whenever I called.
3 The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I came to grief and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”
(Response) I will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 116:13)
12 How shall I repay the Lord
for all the good things God has done for me?
13 I will lift the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people.
15 Precious in your sight, O Lord,
is the death of your servants.
16 O Lord, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
17 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call upon the name of the Lord.
(Response) I will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 116:13)
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all God’s people,
19 in the courts of the Lord’s house,
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
(Response) I will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps. 116:13)
SECOND READING
1ST PETER 1:17-23
The imagery of exile is used to help the readers of this letter understand that they
are strangers in a strange land. Christians no longer belong to this age. Through
the death of Christ we belong to God, so that our focus, faith, and hope are no
longer on such things as silver or gold.
17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges impartially according to each
person’s work, live in fear during the time of your exile. 18 You know that you
were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with
perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like
that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined before the
foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.
21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead
and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that
you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart.
23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through
the living and enduring word of God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Our hearts burn within us while you open to us the scriptures. Alleluia. (Luke 24:32)
GOSPEL READING
LUKE 24:13-35
The colorful story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus
answers the question of how Jesus is to be recognized among us. Here, he is
revealed through the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.
13 Now on that same day two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these
things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus
himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from
recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each
other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them,
whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in
Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these
days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus
of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be
condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one
to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these
things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They
were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there
they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who
said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to
them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer
these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all
the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if
he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because
it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with
them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke
it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him,
and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our
hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was
opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to
Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.
34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to
Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been
made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH, 2026