By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted April 17, 2026

(See the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter)

The sun was setting and darkness arrived in the mountains of Tyrol. People gathered in towns squares. All were looking at the darkness toward the mountains surrounding them. Slowly the darkness was pierced by a glimmer of light. The light spread steadily. Soon an image in light could be seen in the mountains. The figure of a heart ablaze with fire was soon visible. The crowds erupted in a joyful cheer.

Sacred Heart fires are set ablaze in the Tyrol region on the border of Italy and Austria as a reminder of a time when Napoleon was making his conquering trek across Europe. The local troops were not prepared to resist such an overwhelming force. They appealed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for deliverance. Their prayers were answered and they remained free. The fire of divine love saved the people from impending servitude. In thanksgiving, they continue to light these fires in the mountains as a reminder of their salvation.

The image of the Sacred Heart is that of a heart topped with a brilliant burning flame. The devotion began in the Middle Ages but was popularized by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 18th century and by Mary of the Divine Heart in the 19th. The devotion reminds us of God’s compassionate love that would allow neither suffering nor death to impede; a fire of love that cannot be extinguished.

As we continue our celebration of Easter, we celebrate that love. The Gospel passage for this Sunday’s liturgy recalls another resurrection account. The account from St. Luke is sometimes referred to as “the Road to Emmaus.”

In this account we hear of a disciple named Cleopas journeying with a fellow unnamed disciple. They are leaving Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion. They are full of sadness and grief. Their hope, inspired by Christ, has faded.

Jesus, now risen from the dead, appears and walks with them but they do not recognize Him. They explain what had happened to Jesus and the report that He was alive. Jesus understands their confusion. He uses the Scriptures (Old Testament) to explain all that has happened.

The flame of faith is rekindled and their hope is restored. The disciples recall later, after their eyes were opened at the breaking of the bread, that as he spoke “our hearts were burning within us.”

Fire is a wonderful image to capture the effects of being touched by God’s love. The spread of the Gospel in the early Church, as well as the Church today, testifies to its effect. The missionary work of the Church – to spread the word of divine love in Christ Jesus – is symbolized by fire. In this case, it is not a fire that destroys but like that of the burning bush which enlightens and enlivens.

Since Easter and all through the Easter Season we hear a reading from Acts of the Apostles as the first reading for Masses. The readings recall the spread of faith. Like the Olympic Torch relay every two years, the flame of faith passes from one person to another, from one community to another.

The passage for Sunday’s liturgy recalls Peter’s speech at Pentecost. He proclaims the kerygma – Jesus has died and is risen from the dead. Like Jesus speaking to Cleopas and his friend, Peter uses the Old Testament as background as he speaks to the Jewish community gathered in Jerusalem for the feast. The people are amazed at his words and many come to believe. The spread of the Gospel continues throughout Acts by Peter, Paul and the others until it reaches Rome, the center of the world at that time.

Reading and praying with the Scriptures is a wonderful way to feed the fire of faith, to encounter ever anew the passion of divine love. We hear the Word proclaimed at every Mass and liturgy in the Church. Reading and reflecting on the passages prior to Mass is one way to open our hearts to accept the Word as it is being proclaimed. The readings for every liturgy, daily and Sunday, are readily accessible on the internet (https://bible.usccb.org/readings/calendar). In active listening, we can hear God speak to us and enflame our hearts with His compassionate love.

The fires that light the Tyrol region every June as they celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus provide us with a wonderful image for the power of God’s compassionate love. It dispels the darkness with a living light. We encounter that light through the proclamation of the Word. Reading and reflecting on the sacred Scriptures help fuel the fire.

Hearing the first proclamations from the early Church recalled in Acts, a mission in which we all have a part, we are reminded that central to God’s love is the passion, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus. He embraces suffering and death so that we might know the depth of His love and to enflame our hearts in love.

“The Lord is risen! Alleluia. He is risen indeed, alleluia, alleluia!”

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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Read more reflections by Msgr. Prior here.