Catholic Digest themes/topics for 3rd Sunday of Easter based on the following Acts 2:14, 22-33 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35

Homily Themes

Catholic Digest, Homily Themes

Catholic Digest, Homily Themes

Sunday, April 19, 2026

3rd Sunday of Easter (A)

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WHAT'S NEWSUNDAY EXAMENDIACONATE REFLECTIONCATHOLIC PRESSFORMED VIDEOS
LITURGY PLANNER – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
SUNDAY INTRO
COMMENTARY – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
COMMENTARY
HOMILY HELPER - 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
TARGET GROUPS
FR. TONY'S HOMILY – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
FR. TONY’S HOMILY
HOMILIES – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
HOMILIES
PAPAL HOMILIES – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
PAPAL HOMILIES
CHILDREN – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
CHILDREN
CATHOLIC DIGEST – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
EXAMEN
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL – 3rd Sunday of Easter (A)
Easter 3A
PETITIONS

What’s New

PRACTICAL
ACTIONS

The Ministry of Presence (Luke 24)

  • Practice “Emmaus Listening”: Identify someone in your life who is currently “downcast” or discouraged. Set aside 20 minutes to walk or sit with them, asking open-ended questions and listening to their story without immediately trying to “fix” it.
  • Practice Intentional Hospitality: Invite someone over for a meal or a coffee who is not part of your inner circle. Treat the “stranger” as a guest of honor at your table.
  • Recognize the “Breaking of the Bread”: Before your next meal, pause for a full minute of silence to acknowledge Christ’s presence in the simple act of eating and the community gathered there.

2. The Sojourner’s Discipline (1 Peter 1)

  • Perform a “Perishable Audit”: Identify one material possession or digital habit that has become an “idol” or a source of anxiety. Fast from it for three days to remind yourself that you are a “sojourner” and your true home is not here.
  • A Prayer of Ransom: Each morning this week, pray: “Lord, I thank you for ransoming me with your precious blood. Help me to live today as one who has been bought at a great price.”
  • Act with Reverent Fear: Choose one task you usually rush through (work, chores, or parenting) and perform it with “reverent awe,” offering the quality of your work as a sacrifice to God.

3. The Boldness of Witness (Acts 2)

  • Prepare Your “Proclamation”: Write down three sentences describing a time you saw God’s hand in your life (your “witness”). Be ready to share it if the opportunity arises naturally in conversation.
  • Public Faith: Make a small, visible sign of your faith in a public space—such as saying grace in a restaurant or keeping a Bible on your desk—without being performative or defensive.
  • Study the “Delivered Plan”: Spend 15 minutes reading the Old Testament prophecies mentioned in the Gospels (like those from Isaiah or the Psalms) to strengthen your own understanding of God’s long-term plan for redemption.

4. Immediate “To-Dos”

  • Scripture Memory: Memorize 1 Peter 1:18-19: “You were ransomed… not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ.”
  • Evening Review: At the end of each day, ask yourself: “Where did my heart ‘burn within me’ today, and did I recognize Jesus in that moment?”

Sunday Examen

Non-profits have permission to copy and paste infographics into their publications.

create an examination of conscience based on the following readings Acts 2:14, 22-33 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35

Create a modern flat-design infographic about [Insert Your Topic]. Use a clean white background with a high-contrast color palette of deep charcoal, soft gold accents, and muted teal. Organize the content into a clear visual hierarchy with three distinct sections. Use bold sans-serif typography for headings and simple, elegant vector icons. Ensure plenty of white space for readability and a professional, editorial feel. No cite markings.

Color Scheme: “Soft gold and charcoal accents on a stark white background.”

Art Style: “Flat design vector illustration” or “Swiss Design style” (known for cleanliness and grids).

Layout: “Vertical 9:16 aspect ratio” or “Three-panel grid layout.”

Typography: “Bold Arial-style sans-serif fonts” or “Large high-contrast headings.”

Elements: “Minimalist icons,” “uncluttered composition,” and “balanced white space.”

I. The Call to Witness (Acts 2:14, 22-33)

In his first sermon, Peter stands with the Eleven and boldly proclaims the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan.

  • Boldness vs. Silence: Have I been ashamed of my faith in public settings, or have I stood up for the truth of the Gospel when it was unpopular?
  • Recognizing God’s Hand: Do I acknowledge “the delivered plan and foreknowledge of God” in my own life, or do I react to trials with bitterness and a lack of trust?
  • The Joy of the Presence: Peter quotes David saying, “You will fill me with joy in your presence.” Do I seek my ultimate joy in God, or am I constantly chasing fleeting distractions?

II. The Price of Redemption (1 Peter 1:17-21)

Peter reminds the faithful that they were ransomed not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.

  • Reverent Awe: Do I live my life with a “reverent fear” of God, recognizing his holiness, or have I become casual and indifferent toward the sacred?
  • The Idol of Perishables: Am I overly attached to “silver and gold”—material wealth, status, or possessions—forgetting that these cannot save me?
  • Conduct in Exile: Peter describes our time on earth as a “sojourn.” Do I live as a citizen of heaven, or have I become so assimilated into worldly values that I am indistinguishable from those without faith?
  • Gratitude for the Sacrifice: How often do I meditate on the “precious blood of Christ”? Do I take my redemption for granted?

III. The Journey to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

Two disciples walk in disappointment until Jesus joins them, explaining the Scriptures and breaking the bread.

  • Spiritual Blindness: Am I “slow of heart to believe” what the prophets and the Church teach? Have I allowed disappointment or grief to prevent me from seeing Jesus walking beside me?
  • The Charity of Hospitality: The disciples invited the stranger to “stay with us.” Do I practice hospitality toward the stranger, the lonely, or those who have nothing to offer me in return?
  • Burning Hearts: When I hear the Scriptures read at Mass or in private study, does my heart “burn within me”? Or have I allowed the Word of God to become dry and academic?
  • Recognizing the Breaking of Bread: Do I approach the Eucharist with the realization that it is the Risen Lord truly present? How has my participation in the Mass transformed my daily actions?
  • Returning to Jerusalem: Once the disciples recognized Jesus, they immediately went back to share the news. Do I share my encounters with Christ with others, or do I keep my spiritual life hidden and private?

Three Theological Virtues

Virtue
Reflective Question based on the Readings
Faith
Do I believe in the Resurrection as a historical reality that changes my today, or just a story from the past? (Acts 2)
Hope
Is my hope set firmly on the grace to be revealed, or am I easily shaken by political or economic shifts? (1 Peter 1)
Charity
Do I recognize Christ in the “stranger” on my own road, and am I willing to share my “table” with them? (Luke 24)

Theology, Apologetics & Evangelization

These channels focus on explaining and defending the Catholic faith, often engaging with modern culture and other viewpoints.

  • Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): One of the most influential voices in the Church, offering cultural commentary, movie reviews, and deep theological deep-dives.
  • Ascension Presents: A powerhouse channel featuring popular figures like Fr. Mike Schmitz (known for the “Bible in a Year” and “Catechism in a Year” podcasts) and Fr. Josh Johnson, offering accessible videos on faith and life.
  • Catholic Answers: The premier channel for Catholic apologetics, featuring live Q&A shows where apologists answer tough questions from callers.
  • Pints with Aquinas (Matt Fradd): Long-form interviews and discussions on theology, philosophy, and culture, often over a drink.
  • The Counsel of Trent (Trent Horn): Trent Horn, a Catholic Answers apologist, provides rebuttals to atheist and Protestant arguments, as well as commentary on current events.
  • Jimmy Akin: A senior apologist at Catholic Answers known for his fairness and deep knowledge, covering everything from bizarre questions to deep theology.
  • Breaking In The Habit (Fr. Casey Cole, OFM): A young Franciscan friar who offers fresh, accessible reflections on faith, vocations, and everyday life.
  • Thomistic Institute: Excellent, high-quality animated videos and lectures explaining the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Burning Heart

Gospel: Luke 24:13–35
Theme: Were not our hearts burning within us? 

Deacon Peter
McCulloch
(Diocese of Broken Bay)

On the road to Emmaus, we meet two disciples who are filled with disillusion. Their hopes have been crucified, and they are walking awayfrom Jerusalem, away from the community, away from the crisis, away from the place of faith. They are weary, confused, and sadly downcast. 

Into this despair, the Risen Christ enters, not in a burst of glory, but as an anonymous stranger, a quiet companion on the road. He does not begin with a proclamation; He begins with a question: ‘What are you talking about?’ He listens to their story of broken hope. Only then does He open the scriptures to them, and only later do they recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. 

This is, perhaps, the most perfect icon of the diakonia. The deacon’s ministry is this quiet companionship. He is ordained to walk with those who are disillusioned and downcast, helping them recognize Christ in their midst. As St. Augustine said, ‘Our hearts must burn so that others may be set aflame.” 

AT MASS

Opening the Word, Breaking the Bread

The disciples’ recognition came in two distinct, inseparable phases: their hearts burned at the Word, and their eyes were opened at the Table. The deacon is the minister who uniquely bridges these two actions at the altar.

  • Minister of the ‘Burning Word’: The disciples’ hearts ‘burned within them’ while Jesus opened the scriptures. When the deacon proclaims the Gospel, he is not just reading a text; he is participating in this same act. His homily, born from his own burning heart, is meant to be that opening of the Word that sets the assembly’s hearts on fire. 
  • Minister of the ‘Opened Eyes’: The disciples’ eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread. The deacon stands at the altar, assisting as the bread is broken and serving as the ordinary minister of the Chalice. He is the living link between the ambo (Word) and the altar (Sacrament), helping the assembly to recognize the Lord who they just heard proclaimed. 
  • The Dismissal to Proclaim: The moment they recognize Jesus, the two disciples ‘set out at once’ and returnto Jerusalem to proclaim what they have discovered. The deacon’s dismissal, to ‘Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord!’ is the commissioning of the Emmaus disciple of today: ‘Go, return to the community, and tell them what you have seen!’ 

IN THE PARISH

The Ministry of Accompaniment

This Gospel is the blueprint for all catechesis and pastoral care, for Jesus ‘drew near and walked with them.’ 

  • The Emmaus Road of the RCIA: The deacon’s work in the RCIA is a living Emmaus journey. He walks with seekers who often come with questions, doubts, and disillusionment, for months. He patiently opens the scriptures to them in catechesis, he listens to their stories, and he leads them to the moment their eyes are opened at the font and the altar. 
  • Quiet Companionship: In his parish life, the deacon is the one who ‘walks with.’ He sits with the grieving family, he visits the estranged parishioner, and he listens to the doubting. His is not always a ministry of ‘fixing,’ but of ‘being with’ – a quiet, steady presence that allows Jesus Christ to enter the conversation. 

AT THE MARGINS

The Journey to the Disillusioned

The deacon is ordained to find those on their own road to Emmaus, those walking away from hope. 

  • Finding the Downcast: The deacon’s diakonia calls him to the margins, to the places of crushed hopes: the hospital waiting room, the home of the unemployed, the bedside of the addict, the quiet room of the lonely. 
  • Service as the Spark: His service is the ‘opening of the Word’ in a tangible form. A bag of groceries, a warm cup of coffee, a listening ear, and a simple act of advocacy – these are the sparks that can make a cold, weary heart begin to burn again with hope.
  • Revealing the Lord in the Journey: In this ministry of listening, teaching, and serving, the deacon helps those he serves to recognize Christ. He is the living proof that the Lord has not abandoned them in their disillusionment, but is, in fact, the very stranger walking beside them on the journey. is service is a constant proclamation, made not just with his voice but with his life: ‘My Lord and my God!’ 

Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons and Guidelines for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons – (ACBC)

The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America (USCCB)

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