How does Jesus expect us to deal with injustices in the world?

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Cycle A

Given at St. Jude, April 18 and 19, 2026

By Deacon Ken Steponaitis

Readings: 3rd Sunday of Easter - Cycle A

Video of the Mass

As we continue our Easter journey, we will read about how the miracle of the resurrection moved people from being scared and unsure of Jesus, to a place of such surety. So sure of the resurrection they are willing to give their lives for their faith. And in this struggle of faith, in this journey we take, there are going to be times when we learn things that shake us up. Where once we were dead to an idea or thought, or a lifestyle, suddenly something in our lives awakens, we are in effect resurrected to a new life. Something within us that says, what we used to believe and see is not the same anymore. I saw this happen with our new Catholics who we baptized and confirmed at Easter Vigil.

Today I am troubled because I am having an experience that is causing me to rethink what I thought I knew. In fact, it is causing me a dilemma.

To help you understand what I am experiencing I want to put into perspective our Gospel for today because it is the Gospel that brought about this dilemma.

The two people walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus have a certain mindset. They are believing that who they thought is the Messiah, or as the Gospel puts it, “who was a prophet mighty in deed and word,” doesn’t seem to fit what it is that they expected of the Messiah. The people of Jesus’ time thought the Messiah would somehow overcome the powers of the world. They were, “hoping that [Jesus] would be the one to redeem Israel.” Some bible translations use the word liberate; He would liberate Israel. In other words, these two walking on the road to Emmaus expected that Jesus, would through the power of God, defeat Rome.

But Jesus didn’t overcome any of the worldly powers. In fact, Jesus allowed the worldly powers, to sentence him and crucify him.

What was probably an extremely confusing situation became all the more confusing when the two heard the stories from the women who went to the tomb, presumably to anoint Jesus’ body, but found there was no body. These same women also told of visions of angels who announced that Jesus was alive.

The two people walking on the road to Emmaus even went to the tomb themselves and saw what the women had described … they did not find the body of Jesus. Their minds must have been swirling. What does this mean? How can this be? If Jesus is who He claims to be, how do the things that were happening make Jesus the Messiah? Nothing seemed to fit their understanding.

I think it is so fascinating that Jesus, who somehow prevented these two people from seeing who He was, at first, walks up to them and starts a conversation and the two have no idea who they are talking to. This detail may represent our failure to understand who Jesus is and not only who Jesus is but what Jesus wants of us. And Jesus plays along with them … “what sort of things” have “taken place?” Jesus asks. And then after the two describe what happened, Jesus says something that was gut wrenching to me … “how foolish you are. How slow of heart [you are] to believe” all that you know from scripture and the prophets. And Jesus spent the rest of their 2-hour walk explaining how these things had to happen the way they did.

The story of course does not end there. After the breaking, blessing and giving of the bread, their eyes were opened. After Eucharist, these two disciples now saw who was explaining to them what had to happen. And it was all there, all in scripture what and who the Messiah is. Suddenly their whole perspective on things changed. They were awakened, resurrected, if you will. Their hearts were burning with the truth.

It is in this Gospel story that I realize maybe how foolish I am. How slow of heart I am to believe.

As the world struggles to quell the influences of evil and sin, often the solution is to wield overwhelming power. Those with power, be it military or economic, can force other people and even whole nations to yield to their will. My dilemma is, to what extent is our responsibility as nation, as a people, even as a church to make this world more just?

The Church has for example, has a “just war” teaching. The Church teaches there are certain circumstances when going to war is justifiable. Essentially:  

• There must be a Legitimate Authority: War must be declared by a lawful sovereign, not by private individuals.

• Just Cause: There must be a real and grave reason, such as defense against aggression or rectification of grave injustice.

• Right Intention: The goal must be to advance good or avoid evil, not vengeance or conquest.

• Proportionality: The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.

• Good Faith: There must declare war in good faith; not for nefarious reasons.

But then as I thought about all this and after reading the story in the Gospel for this Sunday, I realized that my mindset may be the same as the mindset of the two disciples walking towards Emmaus.

Was it right that Rome soldiers would arbitrarily kill and persecute the Jews just to wield their power so as to prevent uprisings? I don’t think so! Yet Jesus, who is God, who certainly had the power to overcome any earthly powers didn’t lift a finger against his enemies. As Isaiah prophesied, “He will not cry out, nor shout, nor make his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he did not quench. He will faithfully bring forth justice.” And while we don’t know what Jesus told these two disciples on the road to Emmaus, this might be a sampling of what Jesus quoted to explain to these two disciples what had to happen.

Were the Jewish people justified in thinking that if God was going to save his people, he would allow the Romans to be somehow defeated, to be somehow brought to their knees and forced to allow the Jewish people to live in peace and autonomy? From a purely earthly perspective, it seems appropriate, but that is not how Jesus works. That is not the mind of God.

This is the dilemma we face in our society today. Are we to take aggressive actions against enemies of humanity preemptively to preclude aggressive actions against us or against those who are innocent?

What am I called to do? What does God want me, to understand in this? Where does the line get drawn, if there is any line at all in using things like military or economic power to subdue an enemy?

I think about, for example, that as difficult and horrendous as Jesus’ persecutions were and are, Jesus still loves us. Not just us but everyone. My enemies too! Am I an extension of God’s justice? And if I am, what should that justice be? Jesus overcame persecution and death not by wielding power, in fact just the opposite, but succumbing to power.

How? He was resurrected! All the aggressions that were taken against Jesus ultimately killed him and yet he never lifted a finger against his enemies. Rather, he trusted the Father, did the Father’s will and forgave! From the cross he said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what we do!

Is that the trust we are to have? That our enemies can do whatever they do, but they can’t take away our resurrection?

I don’t tell you this because I am on one side or another. I tell you this because I'm conflicted. What would Jesus advise world leaders with the power to address evil.  Should we be plucking out the proverbial weeds to save the wheat, knowing that some of the wheat could be plucked out with the weed?

Would Jesus suggest military action? Would He suggest every possible form of influence short of military action? Would He suggest economic sanctions severe enough to cause poverty? Would he suggest peace talks continue even if it seems there is no resolution? Would Jesus ask us to trust and believe that the Father knows what the Father is doing and we don’t need to try and take out evils in this world believing, trusting, that in the end death and evil and sin have no power over perfect love?

I think we all want to do what is right and sometimes, at least for me, it not always too clear what the right thing is?

So, as we come forward to receive Eucharist, pray that our hearts burn with the truth of the scripture and that Jesus is made known to us in the breaking of the bread.