He opened their minds. Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B

The rhythm of life begins with enchantment, only to be followed by disenchantment, and then, hopefully, re-enchantment. The disciples thought they were following a Messiah who would restore the fortunes of Israel, a Messiah who would grant them positions of honour. But they were soon to be disenchanted when Jesus is crucified as a common criminal. They had been looking for the wrong kind of Messiah. In today’s gospel the risen Lord opens the eyes of his disciples so that they could see and understand that a suffering and victorious Messiah had been before their eyes all along. This is re-enchantment.