In the spur of the moment, I tend to focus more on the “whys” rather than on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). In Luke 24:13-35, the disciples did not recognize Jesus, even though He walked with them, and their eyes were kept from seeing Him. I can relate, because when life feels heavy, it is easy to lose sight of His presence. Yet, this passage reminds me that Jesus is always near, even when I fail to recognize Him. 

However, today’s Gospel reassures me that even when life feels unclear, God is still present, and no condition is permanent. I am confident that if God has brought me this far, He will take me further. (Philippians 1:6) Therefore, I am reminded to look beyond my present situation, while also recognizing that many people are walking through different storms: loss, disappointment, and uncertainty. 

Personally, I have experienced seasons of job rejections, moving from one interview to another. Yet, when I least expected it, a door opened. That moment reminded me that God is always at work behind the scenes. If God came through for me, He will take care of you, too. 

Even when we serve God faithfully – praying, fasting, giving, and staying committed – life may not unfold as we expect. Scriptures assure us that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Like a potter, God shapes and refines us. (Jeremiah 18:6) As the disciples said, "But we had hoped..." (Luke 24:21) Yet, God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), building endurance, character, and hope in us. (Romans 5:3-4)

"Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them..." (Luke 24:27) reminds me that when we spend time in the Word, Jesus reveals Himself to us. When I commit my mornings to prayer and Scripture, my understanding deepens. This Gospel reminds me that Scripture remains our foundation. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

"He took bread, blessed and broken it...then their eyes were opened." (Luke 24:30-31) This reminds me to be present at Mass, especially during the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist, where our eyes are opened to recognize Christ. As Scripture says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20) While God is present everywhere, the Eucharist remains a powerful place of encounter. 

Finally, this Gospel reminds me that encountering Christ is not the end, but the beginning. Like the disciples who returned to Jerusalem to share the Good News (Luke 24:33-35), we are called not only to believe but to proclaim. Even in uncertain seasons, I trust that God is at work and that His goodness continues to pursue us. (Psalm 23:6)

Jesus, I thank You that even in confusion and doubt, You remain present in my life. Strengthen my faith, help me recognize You in every season, and lead me in Your light. Amen.




Michaelina Dawson Otoo

As we are now in the second quarter of 2026, I would like to take a pause and evaluate the first quarter of my year. As this psalm in the Easter season declares, “You show me the path of life. In your presence, there is fullness of joy.” Our God is a God who is in the business of wanting to see us happy. He wants us to have true joy. 
 
Personally, I have sometimes strayed away from keeping my focus on Him and have focused on other people or other things to bring me joy. But the inventor of joy is the only one who can deal out true and authentic joy. 
 
Having participated in a Grad seminar on the “Psalms and their Interpretation” this winter, I’ve grown to really love and value the simplicity and straightforwardness of the psalms. Most of the Psalms are attributed to King David and I am in awe of how he cries out to God when he is sad, how he rejoices when he is fulfilled and how he laments when he has strayed far away from the Lord.
 
Just like Psalm 16 states, “my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure” – Jesus is the Lord of our hearts, our souls, and our bodies. The creator of our hearts, souls, and bodies is not about to let us dwell in self-condemnation and self-pity, but He is going to set us free from our sadness, shame, and struggles. So, as we journey through this Easter season, let us not hesitate to turn to God with our frustrations, our disappointments, and our challenges as He is the only one capable of giving us complete and satisfactory joy.
 
My joyful Lord, use my shortcomings for your glory and help me dwell in the peace and joy that only you can provide. Amen.




Rebecca D'Mello

This passage is a great one for imaginative reflection. I will now put myself into the crowd that Peter is talking to. 
 
Moments before Peter speaks, it is chaos in the streets. Jesus’ disciples can suddenly speak the language of every person present! I am blown away and completely in awe of this miracle! There are so many different languages being spoken, it sounds like the Tower of Babel! People are crying and laughing with joy! 
 
Then, Peter speaks in a commanding voice. I hear him in my own language just as the person beside me hears him in hers. The street falls quiet. The realization of Jesus’ crucifixion is staggering. God died and we were responsible. How could this have happened? Why couldn’t I have stopped it? I feel guilty and ashamed. You could hear a pin drop as Peter declares “you crucified and killed [Him] by the hands of those outside the law.”
 
After a long pause, Peter continues and confirms what all of us have come to know but have been too afraid to admit for fear of prosecution: God raised Jesus from the dead! The guilt and the shame are washed away as this new reality sets in – our God has conquered death. Cheers erupt from the crowd as Peter says, “because it was impossible for him to be held in [death’s] power”. I am elated. Jesus has shown that death is not the end. At the same time, I sense that my life has taken on an entirely new meaning, and that realization is daunting. I am left wondering: what does this mean for my life?
 
I can imagine that a person in the crowd during this moment asked the same question I have 2,000 years later: what does Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for my life? Honestly, I don’t think I have a complete answer for this, but at the very least it is a realization that I am just visiting this world and that it is not my final destination. It makes me appreciate my time on Earth more. 
 
I am not just some random occurrence of life sentenced to live in confusion on a floating rock in space. I come from somewhere greater than this and one day I will return home. For now, though, I have the privilege to enjoy God’s creation. Living on this planet is not a punishment but a gift from God. Even the evil that God permits in this world, while painful to experience, is temporary. Those that do evil will get justice in the next life; they will not go unpunished. 
 
Jesus’ resurrection is a perspective shift. Our life has meaning and we are not here by accident. In this way God has “made known to me the ways of life”. 





Ronnie Noonan-Birch