Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Third Sunday of Easter – Sr. Biddy Rose Tiernan, SNDdeN

April 19, 2026

Luke 24: 13-35

The Enduring Power of Easter Joy

On this third Sunday of the Easter season, it is worthwhile to pause and reflect on the current state of our Easter fervor. How strong is our Easter joy? How are we embodying the spirit of being ‘Easter people’ within our own communities and daily lives? While the world around us may not have changed dramatically since Easter Sunday—and in many ways, it may still resemble the sorrow of Good Friday—the call to live as people transformed by the Resurrection remains ever-present.

For the first disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem, the external circumstances did not change after the Resurrection. The Roman authorities and the Temple leaders remained as powerful and hostile as ever. Yet, what was truly different was the inner transformation experienced by those who encountered the Risen Jesus. Their newfound joy was so profound that they could not keep it to themselves. This inner change empowered them and is evident in the stories recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.

Encountering the Risen Christ in Everyday Life

Today’s Gospel recounts the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Their experience is a reflection of how many of us might feel today—overwhelmed by the ongoing violence and turmoil in our world. We may wonder, “What can I do about all this?” Cleopas and his companion had heard reports of the Resurrection: ‘Some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared (Jesus) was alive…’. Yet, even with this news, their grief and sadness did not immediately lift.

What changed for them was not merely hearing about the Resurrection, but actually meeting and recognizing the Risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread. This moment of ‘re-membering’ brought them a deep and lasting joy.

The True Nature of Easter Joy

Theologian and podcaster Kate Bowler describes Easter as a feast of joy, but she acknowledges how difficult this joy can feel. She observes, “We wake up the next morning (after Easter) and discover that we are still carrying the same griefs, the same unanswered prayers, the same ache we carried throughout Lent. This can feel confusing. Shouldn’t we feel better? Was Easter not enough?”

Bowler reminds us that Easter joy is not the feeling that everything has been fixed. It is not simply happiness, resolution, or emotional closure. Instead, Easter joy is the ability to live in Christian anticipation and trust—patiently and imperfectly—even while we remain here in the uncertain and unfinished “long middle” of our lives.

Living Out Resurrection Joy

As we gather this Sunday to break bread together, let us pray for the deep gift of Resurrection joy—the same joy that sent Cleopas and his companion racing back to share the good news with their friends in Jerusalem. May this joy help us to bring light to our own environments, wherever we may find ourselves, and inspire us to spread Christian hope and trust to those around us.

Luke 24: 13-35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”

And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Meet Sister Biddy Rose Tiernan, SNDdeN

Brigid Rose Tiernan has been in Notre Dame since 1963. She was born in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, grew up in Zambia, but attended the Notre Dame Convent in Kroonstad, South Africa, where she discovered her call to be a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. She obtained a BA degree before joining the SNDs, and as an SND had the opportunity to study further in the field of Education. She has been a High School Teacher, a trainer for Justice and Peace – a life-long passion – and, latterly, has added Organizational Development and Facilitation skills to her repertoire. She lives in Johannesburg and continues her leadership in her ministry of education. She works in the SA ND archives…and loves the opportunity it gives her to get in touch with the stories that have made the Sisters of Notre Dame who they are today. Her written history of the last 50 years of Notre Dame’s JOURNEY UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS has been published.

Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday – Sr. Maureen Marr, SNDdeN –

April 12, 2026

John 20: 19-31

Here we are…the Second Sunday in Easter…greeting the Lord along with the disciples.  Perhaps like Thomas, we have our questions too!   Unless we see…we find it hard to believe.

As always, Jesus helps us work it out!  “Just open your eyes…not just the eyes in your head, but also the eyes of your heart and mind and will.”  Jesus remains among us. He promises not to leave us, and He is not one to make false promises!

Somehow, I always feel it was easier for those first disciples…but so very hard at times for those who came along later.  Standing back and relooking at those first men and women who followed the Lord, their understanding was a bit cloudy too!  Just ask Thomas, or Peter, or the mother of James and John who had big dreams for her sons.

Our world is ever more complicated; more complex questions and difficulties; dangerous weaponry leading to less security; greater misunderstanding and fear of one another… Where are you Jesus?  How do we stay connected with you? How do we deal with you and our world today? Perhaps one response is “It’s all about relationship.”

How do we reach out to our neighbors? Do we reach out? Who are our neighbors? Jesus did not push the doubting Thomas away; he asked him to come close and touch his wounds. Somehow it seems to come down to handing on love each in her own way.  The act of believing doesn’t come to a halt.  It is always in process…continuing and deepening.

May the mystery of Jesus and his gift of love be in our hearts and minds and actions each day…and, like Thomas, sometimes stumbling a bit, may we put our own doubts aside to choose God and God’s Goodness as we contribute to a world where all may thrive in compassion and peace.

John 20: 19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The Gospel of the Lord

Meet Sister Maureen Marr, SNDdeN

Sr. Maureen’s last formal ministry involved working with a team of sisters at Bakhita Safe House for trafficked women…quite challenging, but very rewarding. Before this Maureen engaged in high school education as teacher, guidance counselor, vice-principal and principal. She responded to a request to be a campus chaplain at University of Maine in Orona, which offered a side benefit of learning to cross country ski! She was fortunate to spend six years in Rome as General Secretary during the term of Sr. Camilla Burns and her successor Sr. Teresita Weind. Currently, Maureen lives in community with two SND’s where the “Ministry of Welcome” evolved. They have hosted several sister-students who study either at Boston College or Boston University: to date they have enjoyed students from China, Congo, Canada, Japan, Nigeria, Peru and Vietnam. It continues to be an enriching and joyful experience!