Easter Day of the Lord’s Resurrection
5 April 2026
The editor of a leading religious newspaper was walking along some cliffs one Easter morning. On his walk he met an old fisherman, and during their conversation together, the editor was struck by the simple faith of the old fisherman in his risen Saviour. ‘How do you know that Christ is risen?’ he asked. ‘Sir,’ came the reply, do you see those cottages near the cliffs? Well, Sir, sometimes when I am far out at sea I know that the sun is risen by the light that is reflected by yon cottage windows. How do I know that Christ is risen? Why, Sir, do I not see the light reflected from the face of some of my companions every day, and do I not feel the light of his glory in my own life? You may as soon tell me that the sun is not risen when I see its reflected glory, as tell me that my Lord is not risen.’
This story echoes the memorable statement of the great second century theologian, Clement of Alexandria, on the significance of Christ’s resurrection: ‘Christ has turned all our sunsets into dawn’.
Pope Francis encouraged us to welcome the Risen Christ into our lives as a friend, with trust and confidence: ‘If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk. You won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for, and the strength to live as he would have you do.’
Michael McCabe SMA
sma.ie
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Second Sunday of Easter
12 April 2026 • Divine Mercy Sunday
There are times when we seem to be all alone in the world. There are times when we wonder if God is really out there, during loss, illness: we long for some sign that He is out there, and that He cares about us. And we, like Thomas, begin to doubt.
If you hang around skeptical, unbelieving people, then you are in trouble. Your faith is not fed, belief does not do well in faithless company any more than resistance to drugs rarely survives well among drug-taking friends. Faith is like a muscle in the body: if you do not use it, it begins to weaken. If you do not exercise your faith, it too dies.
The way you exercise your faith is by living it. First and foremost, you have to talk to God. We call that prayer. You have to talk to God because you cannot have a relationship with anyone unless you communicate with them. When Death asks the question, ‘Is there anyone out there’ the answer is a firm ‘Yes!’
If you are a person of faith, hold on to it. Exercise it, use it, it is a gift more precious than gold. You are indeed fortunate when you can say, and believe, the words of St Thomas, ‘My Lord and my God.’
Fr Bob’s homilies
Franciscan friars of the atonement
atonementfriars.org
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Third Sunday of Easter
19 April 2026
We see the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, walking away from Jerusalem and the place of their pain.
In the face of their crushing disappointments, their words to the stranger they met, ‘We had hoped…’ express how their hopes had been dashed by the crucifixion. They are downcast and devastated and we can all identify with times when we have experienced overwhelming disappointments. In this bleak scenario, they do not recognise Jesus and that he is walking with them. However he invites them to articulate what is burdening them. He does not bypass the pain they are experiencing but listens as they share it. As they open up and share with him, they begin a journey and an encounter that ultimately brings healing and true hope. As our former bishop Martin Drennan wrote:
‘The impact is very noticeable in how the disciples allow the past to bless them. Their ‘hopes’ had been crucified by being brought in under the shadow of the Cross and they are now reshaped in the light of new wisdom. Their illusions yielded to reality and hope that was authentic emerged. Forgiving themselves for their blindness to God’s ways and their unrealistic expectations of him became reality. Jesus has turned their wounds into wisdom. When a story ends in reconciliation and peace then it can be told with joy. Re-energised by their meeting with the risen Lord, renewed by his word and by the bread of life, the joy-filled disciples returned to Jerusalem as convinced and convincing witnesses.’ (From ‘Turning wounds into wisdom’).
Poor Clares, Galway
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Fourth Sunday of Easter
26 April 2026 • Day of Prayer for Vocations
For years we prayed for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Nowadays we recognise the vocation of every Christian to be the light of Christ.
Jesus announced that his mission would be the kingdom or reign of God in the world. His taskforce would be the assembly of followers, later called the Church. In a vastly changed world, the Church of tomorrow will not be the same as the Church of the past.
Jesus once described the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure. The treasure too long hidden is the grace of baptism received by every Christian. It is a vocation, a call to bring the light of Christ to others. According to the late Pope Francis, Spirit filled evangelisers are what the Church needs today. ‘How I long to find the words to stir up enthusiasm for a new chapter of evangelisation full of fervour, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction!’
Pope Francis and now Pope Leo have asked the Church to engage in synodality, a method going back to the days of the apostles. A synod literally means walking together. It means discussing what needs to be changed, but above all, listening to the Holy Spirit.
For many people today the Church is irrelevant, so they have walked away in another direction. But there is an emptiness in the jigsaw of the heart that only God can fill. A renewed Church will be closer to the ideals of the Gospel. People will recognise Jesus as the keystone of life.
Let us trust in the Holy Spirit who transformed the confused apostles into zealous missionaries.
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