Third Sunday of Easter 

19th April 2026

Reflection with readings below

How often do we make decisions before we are fully acquainted with the facts? How often do we make judgements based based on what we think to be true?

One of the things I enjoy is a monthly discussion group. Our topics cover the Bible, theological ideas, current affairs via mediums such as books, poems, art works and scripture. What is most invigorating is the intellectual stretch of looking at new ideas and the challenge and insights of others in the group. 

Reading a book on your own is good but having to summarise it for someone else, or hearing it dissected by another, or piecing together the differing views within a group is even more enriching. 

Mulling an idea over in your head is good. Having to articulate those thoughts to some one else can clarify the idea. Listening to someone else’s viewpoint can be equally constructive.

Whilst a good sermon can be inspiring, it is hard to retain all the words and ideas. The lack of discussion reduces engagement. Not being able to put in your own thoughts leaves the sermon as someone else’s thoughts.

So here in today’s gospel we don’t have a sermon. Instead we have at first two companions talking with each other about what is puzzling – even troubling – them. They talk as they walk. 

Interestingly walking creates a good space for talking. It engages the body in an activity that doesn’t need a lot of brain power, and so frees the mind for other things. It is at the same time an activity that fills the gaps in a conversation: whilst you continue to walk together, silences that would otherwise be awkward, are filled by the ongoing walk.

It’s a long walk so they have plenty of time to think and reflect and  niggle at their problem. 

They’re joined by a third companion whose willingness to listen encourages them to pour out the full story. 

Then their companion unpacks whet they have related. He shows them their story in a new light.  He reinterprets for them scriptural passages. He helps them see everything from a new perspective.

Seeing things anew is a reoccurring theme in the Easter story.

As the three – the two companions and the ‘stranger’ – walk and talk together, so they develop a friendship  such that, when they reach Emmaus, they share a meal together. 

Talking together leads to better understanding and empathy and, hence, friendship between people.

Where might God be in this? Helping us to listen and to be focus. Promoting new thoughts. Inspiring wisdom. Opening our eyes to see differently. Opening our hearts to be more understanding. Enabling empathy and fellowship.

Acts 2:14a,36-41

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, “Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 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?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptised 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. 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.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptised, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him. 

2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.

3 Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *
“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”

10 How shall I repay the Lord *
for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

12 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.

13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.

14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.

15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

16 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people,

17 In the courts of the Lord’S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

1 Peter 1:17-23

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognising him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 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?” 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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 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. 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.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. 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?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.