Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the  Gospel for Sunday, April 19, 2026,  entitled, “They recognized him in the breaking of the bread.”

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Today’s Gospel invites us to  contemplate the beautiful story of the  disciples of Emmaus , a  precious catechesis for us to learn to  believe that the Lord lives and is present among us , is present  in the midst of your life.

The disciples are  disappointed : they are experiencing a  crisis of faith because of the scandal of the cross; a crisis because their expectations, their plan  , have not been fulfilled  . They walk sadly, gloomily, without hope, thinking that everything has failed with the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

And the fact is,  they have not yet encountered the Risen One . And, logically, only the encounter with the Risen One can give meaning to the scandal of the cross.

Pope Leo tells us that there is an obstacle that often prevents us from recognizing Christ’s presence in everyday life: the assumption that joy must be without suffering.  The disciples on the road to Emmaus were walking sadly because they expected a different ending,  a Messiah who had not experienced the cross. Despite having heard that the tomb was empty, they were unable to smile.  But Jesus was by their side  and, with patience, helped them to understand that suffering was not a denial of the promise, but rather the way in which God had revealed the measure of his love (cf.  General Audience  , October 8, 2025).

And the Gospel wants to help us  discover some important things :

Beware of  disappointments.  Beware of being trapped by your own plans, by your own expectations which, when unmet, so often lead us to live frustrated, sad, and disillusioned. Let the Lord surprise you:  my ways are not your ways…  (cf.  Is  55).

You cannot distance yourself from Jerusalem , that is, from the Church, from the Christian community. And even less so in times of  crisis . It is especially in times of difficulty that you most need the closeness of your brothers and sisters. God did not create you for solitude, but for  relationship ,  communion  , and  self-giving .  We cannot have God as our Father if we do not  have the Church as our Mother  (St. Cyprian).  Where two or three are gathered in my name …

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?  You are not alone. The Lord walks with you. He is in the midst of your life, your cross, your sufferings. If you do not see him, call upon him! Invoke him! Say to him: Lord, I want to see you! Ask for the Holy Spirit.

They recognized him in the breaking of the bread . The Church is nourished in her pilgrimage to heaven through trustingly listening to the Word of God and in the Eucharist. Trustingly receiving the Word opens your eyes to  see  the Risen One.

What kind of conversation are you having as you walk along?  What kind of conversation is in your heart today?

If the Risen One lives in you and you welcome the gift of his Spirit, you will live like the man in the Psalm :  I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; even at night my heart instructs me… therefore my heart is glad… and my flesh rests secure.  You will fill me with joy in your presence,  with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

If not, you know what to do:  go back to Jerusalem! Listen to the Word! Call on the Lord! Live the Eucharist!  If you believe, you will see the glory of God!

Come, Holy Spirit!