Though every Mass is beautiful, there is something about the Easter Vigil that really gets me every year. There is the Easter fire; the warm glow of the candles in the darkness; the Litany of Saints that are sung as people prepare for baptism that reminds me of what was sung on the day of my ordination; and the beautiful music and ringing of the bells that rings in the Easter Season. And above all else there is the message of Jesus being triumphant over sin and death. It’s a special Mass where I am really moved every year feeling the closeness of God.

And yet, as close as God can feel at that time, there are also moments where I have felt like Cleopas and the other disciple on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel this week. They are walking as it gets dark, dejected and having a hard time understanding that Jesus has risen, until their eyes are opened. I remember having my first really tough funeral for a 16-year-old young woman who lost her battle with cancer and wondering, “OK God what is your plan here?” in other challenging situations. In high school as well, while I never doubted my faith in God, there were moments where I wondered what made the Catholic Church unique, and if truth could be found in other denominations.

Now at age 48, I’m still on that road of faith, and I know there will be moments ahead when it feels like Easter, and also moments where it feels like Good Friday. But the road I walk I do not walk alone.

As we think about this Gospel it’s worth remembering that our faith is a long journey too, and that our faith is not based on subjective feelings but rather we keep moving forward. Some things to think about as that journey continues:

1) Jesus is always with us. The disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, and the Eucharist is our food for the journey of Jesus giving us strength and mercy. But Jesus also has sent us the Holy Spirit, and we stay connected to Him in many ways, such as coming to Mass weekly and daily prayer.

2) The Church is there to help us too. As we strive to discern right from wrong, when we listen to the Church, we can find the happiness that we long for.

3) We do not travel the road alone. The faith is spread through others lifting us up, and we need to both seek others out and also evangelize others as well.

4) Sometimes the journey seems long, but it’s so important to keep going forward through the valleys. Just because we do not always feel the closeness of God does not mean that He is not there.

5) Remember doubt is not a sin; it’s the companion of faith. It’s when we stop walking the road and give up and fall into despair that we have a problem. Doubts will come but remember the promises of Jesus: that He is with us always even to the end of the age, and the gates of the netherworld will never prevail against the Church.

6) Remember the Church is made of humans, but the Holy Spirit is always with Her. The Church does not err in faith and morals. So, when scandal occurs, don’t use that as an excuse to walk away from the faith. We’ve had popes, priests, religious and bishops who have indeed caused scandal in our history; but so many more have done good work to spread the faith and help it grow.

7) Help others on their faith journey too by not giving up on them; the people in your life who are away from the Church, not going at all or seeing a non-Catholic Christian church as the same; those who are angry at the Church; or focused on the things of the world. We do that with prayer, with works of mercy, by not fearing to speak our faith.

8) Be patient – both with ourselves and one another.

Our faith journey is truly a marathon, not a sprint – and what awaits us is truly what eye has not seen and ear has not heard. May we keep our eyes fixed on the goal, remembering that we never walk the road alone.

Have a blessed week,

Fr. Paul

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April 19, 2026