Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, I would like to talk with you about the transformative power of God. Let’s look at our readings today. In our first reading from the 2^nd chapter of Acts of the Apostles, we see this great transformation in St. Peter and the other Apostles. St. John Chrysostom, in his Homily on the Acts of the Apostles, comments on the change that was effected in St. Peter. He says, “Listen to [Peter] preach and argue so boldly, shortly before he had trembled at the word of a servant girl. This boldness is a significant proof of the resurrection of his Master” (Hom. on Act, 4). We see God’s power at work, taking away timidity and concern for self; it is wonderful to behold.

Now let’s look at our Gospel from the 24^th Chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel. You have all heard the story before at the appearance of the Lord on the road to Emmaus. 

The important thing to recognize here is not so much the destination, Emmaus, but from where they are coming. They are coming from Jerusalem. They are walking away from Jerusalem. They are going the wrong way! Jerusalem is the city of the Cross. And they are, perhaps, fleeing from there. The path to Jerusalem is the path of sacrificial love, and they are walking away from the path. They are trying to seek their security in something else, something other than the path that Jesus has laid out for them.

Have you ever had the experience of those disciples on the road to Emmaus? Have you ever had a time like that where it seemed nothing has turned out the way that you had hoped, and you have lost hope? Perhaps you have felt like they did that life doesn’t have any meaning; it doesn’t make sense. 

But then, the Lord is suddenly in their midst, though they don’t recognize him. He listens to them, but then he teaches them. He takes them through the Scriptures beginning with Moses and all the prophets; he interprets the Scriptures in light of His coming, and he breaks the bread with them, which is code for the Mass. And they recognize him in the breaking of the bread. Suddenly they are emboldened to return to Jerusalem and share with the other disciples that they have seen the Lord. They are suddenly emboldened to endure the challenges that they might face. 

There is this great transformation, a new and great boldness in the disciples of Jesus. I challenge all of you to allow the Lord to transform you in a similar way, to give you that boldness. 

I want to share a little bit about my own life and the transformation that God has effected in me.

As I child, I was shy. I remember in school that I dreaded getting up in front of people and giving any kind of presentation. I had trouble navigating my way through the various kinds of social divisions in middle school and high-school. So I just tried to blend in and not get noticed. For this reason, I didn’t get involved in many school activities in school. I was self-conscious, and when I look back, I see that all of that was rooted in fear. 

But around high-school age, through various influences, God was drawing me to something deeper. I started seeking after my faith. I started reading some spiritual books. I started reading the Bible. I started going even to daily Mass. I started developing a more personal relationship with God. And God was transforming me, little by little. 

After high-school, I became involved in a charismatic youth group. I learned to sing praise and worship songs to the Lord. I was involved in serving at Mass . . . this beautiful Latin-Novus Ordo Mass on Saturday evenings with this splendid choir who sang Gregorian chant and other beautiful chanted music with polyphony. I got more involved. I was giving talks at the youth group. I was being transformed and becoming more bold, because I had found my identity in Christ, and in that understanding I found that my life mattered, and I understood that God had a plan for me. I didn’t know what that plan was at that moment, but I knew He had one for me, and that I could trust in Him. I was becoming more virtuous and learning to put old selfish ways behind me, not to be focused on myself, constantly trying to protect myself by putting up my protective walls. I was learning how to live life, and to live it in Christ. 

In those early formative years of my life, I could never have imagined that I would be here speaking to all of you about Christ with such boldness (well, you might look at me and say, ‘He doesn’t seem that bold.’) Ah, but if you had seen me in my childhood, you would see a great difference, I think. Similarly, I don’t think that St. Peter, upon first meeting the Lord, would have imagined that he would be fearleslly speaking in front of all of those people gathered in Jerusalem.

But you see my brothers and sisters, our Lord’s transformative power is real. It doesn’t take away our freedom, but on contrary, gives us true freedom so that we are not ruled by fear or what people with think of us. 

St. John Chrysostom states:

“When the Holy Spirit enters into the heart, he does so to elevate their affections and to change earthly souls, souls of clay, into chosen souls, people of real courage. Look at the harmony that exists among the apostles. See how they allow Peter to speak on behalf of them all. Peter raises his voice and speaks to the people with full assurance. That is the kind of courage a man has when he is the instrument of the Holy Spirit. Just as a burning coal does not lose its heat when it falls on a haystack, but, instead, is enabled to release its heat, so Peter now that he is in contact with the life-giving spirit, spreads his inner fire to those around him” (Hom. on Acts, 4). 

I tell you that God desires to effect that kind of transformation in you hearts. Ask for it! 

We must be convinced, like Peter and the other Apostles. We must be convinced like the disciples on the road to Emmaus … that Jesus is truly risen from the dead. We are not just one religion among other equal religions! Our faith is not just one pathway to God! No, my brothers and sisters, in this season of Easter we are convinced and proclaim that central truth of our Faith, that Christ is truly resurrected from the dead! He is the alive. And He has ascended bodily to the Father in heaven where He is seated at the Right hand of the Power of God. 

He is not merely one way among many other ways to the Father; He is the only Way to Father! 

We are convinced that the Scriptures of the Old Testament refer to Him as the coming Messiah, as He explained to the disciples along way. We are convinced that Christ is with us, that his presence is truly manifested through the Eucharist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, just as He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

That bread was transformed in the hands of our Lord and given to those disciples who travelled with Him toward Emmaus. And they saw the marks of his crucifixion, the marks of love for us, in His hands! God desires for us to put ourselves into his hands and to transform us. Transform us into what? The Mass teaches. The bread and wine are transformed in Christ, then these transformed elements are given to us, that we might be transformed into what we eat. 

Ask for the Lord to transform you more and more into His likeness, to make you bold like Peter and the Apostles! … that we might be a people of true freedom in Christ and not ruled by fear.