April 26, 2026

Gospel:  Luke, Chapter 24, verses 36–49
Homily of the Pontiff Samuel
4th Sunday of Easter

Let us remain in Mary, the Holy City,
to open our hearts and minds to the Scriptures

(Draft: Automatic Translation)

May the Peace of the Risen Christ be with you all, beloved brothers and sisters. He who has risen is alive and true: not ‘a ghost’ (Lk 24:39) but God who never abandons His children and, just as He promised, keeping every promise, has returned to help His children, so as never to leave them alone (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “You are never alone”, 20/10/1985), until the end of time (Mt 28:20).

This He promised and this He has fulfilled. This He said then to those first Brothers, called to be the Pillars of the Temple of God (Rev 3:12), and this He renews today, calling once more those who, called to uphold the Temple of God, Stars of God’s Firmament (Rev 12:1), will help the people to cross the threshold of time and space so that they may enter Eternity, where Life will be forever (Rev 21:27).

Behold, all is fulfilled. Behold, Jesus, as promised, opens the minds of His children (Lk 24:45), through the working of His Spirit, so that His children, who have remained faithful, may understand the Fulfilment and the meaning of every Scripture, starting indeed from the literal meaning of what is written in the Gospels, and then soaring high to grasp and comprehend its profound, eschatological meaning, which will bring everything to its conclusion.

Not ‘a ghost’, but the most beautiful Reality: a living and true God, incarnate: the Essence of Love (Jn 1:14). This is our God, a God who became Man so that, as a Man among men, He might raise up all those who, believing in His Name (Jn 1:12), may in turn be raised up and deified to become as He is: thus, many little Jesuses.

Behold the Peace that pervades the hearts of believers, of the Assembly of believers: a lasting Peace, a stable Peace, just as Peace on Earth will be stable once this Earth has been purified: an Earth that now suffers from man’s neglect, suffers from the betrayal and apostasy of those who ought to have remained faithful (2 Thess 2:3), but which will be made new and will shine once more together with those children who, having been purified, will have kept their robes white (Rev 7:14) so that, with the Risen One, they may rise again in the Spirit, from on high (Jn 3:3) and to experience even now that portion of Paradise which here, in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2), the Son of God makes present, for where Christ is, there is Paradise.

Here is that union between Heaven and Earth, announced by the Maiden of God, and which the children now experience with faith, without doubt and without uncertainty. For this, dear brothers and sisters, is what we are called to. Just as Jesus said then: “Have no doubts, have no uncertainties. Why do you doubt? (Lk 24:38). It is I. Take heart, it is I!” (Mt 14:27). There can be no room for doubt or uncertainty for those who wish to live this Reality, the most beautiful Reality.

To some it may seem like a fairy tale, but let those who wish to believe in fairy tales live in that world (2 Tim 4:3-4). We wish to remain anchored to a solid Reality, the Reality of God who has written everything, revealed everything and is bringing everything to fulfilment. Just as Jesus said to His Maiden in the Revelation “The Holy Place of Jesus’ Return”: here there is no doubt, here there is no uncertainty. “My daughter, you must tell my people that I am always here among them. During my earthly life I went about and visited all the villages, to know and see the needs of my children. So I do here. […] All the children who come here to my feet must carry in their hearts the certainty of a great gift; they must live with ‘the’ certainty of being constantly united to my heart” (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “The Holy Place of the Return of Jesus”, 19/02/1995).

This, beloved brothers and sisters, is what we are now living and are called to live to the full. Long was the Journey that led Jesus to fulfil the History of His Return (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “The Return of Jesus”, 30/10/1994). Long was the preparation experienced by the Heart of the Maiden of God (Act of Magisterium, “Maria G. Norcia”, 21/01/2019), prepared in advance and over time, so that all might be fulfilled. She carried out everything with obedience and lively docility, with profound love, so that the Will of God might shine brightly in hearts; the first condition: to fulfil and put into practice the Will of the Father (Mt 6:10); teaching everyone love for prayer; Love, Love, above all Love, which so many have forgotten: Love for God and Love for one’s neighbour (Mt 22:37–39), for Love has been betrayed, it has been watered down, and so many have lost the meaning of Love (Act of the Magisterium, “The Course of the History of Salvation Reaches its Divine Conclusion”, 21/04/2026). This is what the Maiden of God did on Her journey, and then, in Her final “yes”, ascended to Heaven to bring that Heaven even closer, so that the children might understand It, live It, meditate on It and embrace It even more.

This is what the Maiden of God has given us, in Her unique Mission. “I am asking so much of you, My daughter. You ask Me: ‘What more can I do?’ But do you believe that others could have accomplished all that you have done as you have done it?” (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “She who is the synthesis of the prophets and the ancient patriarchs”, 26/07/1996). If Jesus has returned here, it is because He has found here ‘the’ Heart that knew how to love Him as His Mother.

Behold the Love of Mary returning in this Maiden. Therefore, the Father was able to accomplish all this. Behold the Scriptures being fulfilled; behold the mind opening because, even before that, the heart had been thrown wide open.

“Scripture must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44), said Jesus then, in this passage of the Gospel just proclaimed. Jesus said: “I am going to prepare a place for you; when I have gone and prepared a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me” (Jn 14:2-3) – he said then to his Twelve – “so that you too may be where I am. And you know the way to the place where I am going” (Jn 14:3-4). Certainly, they knew the One who is the Way; they knew him well. And shortly afterwards Jesus said: “I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life” (Jn 14:6). Behold, the heart opens wide and the mind is enlightened, making it clear that this Journey would continue.

And when His disciples asked Him: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus replied: “It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father has reserved for His own purpose” (Acts 1:7) – this is written in the Acts of the Apostles by the same evangelist Luke who wrote this passage, linking back to the passage just proclaimed – to make clear what was to come, yet at the same time to make clear to those who, eager to know, were asking, He replied: “It is not for you; it will not be you who experience all this. It will be the other Twelve. When everything is ready and I have prepared everything for you, I will take you with me.” Here is the union of the two Churches: the militant and the triumphant (Act of the Magisterium, “The True Church”, 08/05/2025).

For now, beloved brothers, you must understand that everything must be fulfilled in the light of the Spirit, that Spirit whom Jesus promised to send to make all things understood, to reveal the whole Truth (Jn 16:13). Jesus said to that woman: ‘God is Spirit. Believe me, woman, God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem’ (Jn 4:21–23) – he said then – ‘for the Father seeks such worshippers’ (Jn 4:23). ‘The woman replied to him: “I know that the Messiah (that is, the Christ) is to come: when he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you”’ (Jn 4:25–26).

It is the Spirit who gives Life, brothers; the flesh is of no avail. “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63), says Jesus again, making clear the true Communion, which is Spirit and Life.

And speaking of the times when everything was to be brought to a close, making it clear that the Spirit proceeds through history, speaking of the Baptist, but above all speaking of Elijah – for Elijah must first return and restore all things (Mk 9:12) – here too we understand, in the light of what the disciples, in their questioning, wish to know. The disciples asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” (Mk 9:11). He replied to them, “Yes, Elijah comes first and restores all things; but what is written concerning the Son of Man?” – Elijah, Son of Man: a close connection – “That he must suffer greatly and be despised. Now I tell you that Elijah has already come, but they did to him whatever they pleased, just as it is written concerning him” (Mk 9:12–13).

The Return that has taken place in this place was also foretold. When Jesus ascended into Heaven (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “The Ascension into Heaven”, 13/04/1995), He said through His Angels: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from among you into heaven, will one day return in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Behold, here in this Ciociaria, the “Galilee of the nations”, Jesus – as He had promised – has returned on a cloud (Rev 1:7) and those two instructed those present at that time on how all this would happen again.

Here are some examples, dear brothers and sisters, of the Scriptures being fulfilled and of the minds of the faithful opening up to understand and experience everything: not a fable, but a solid Reality, anchored in the Holy Scriptures (2 Peter 1:16). Here is this Little Cradle in which everything is fulfilled, a ‘little unknown chapel’, as Sister Faustina put it, which ‘in an instant became a great and beautiful Church’ (Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, 1981, trans. Edoardo Ravaglia, Book II, p. 371).

Here, dear brothers and sisters, is that “piece of roasted fish” (Lk 24:42–43) spoken of in the Gospel. Despite everything, Jesus allowed himself to be fed. He ate: he ate “a portion” of the fish. The “fish” represents Christians, the entirety of Christians. “Roasted”: so we are at the end of time, but Jesus takes “a portion” of it because only a small remnant of the whole will remain (Isa 4:3; 10:20–22). Here is the City divided into three parts, where “a portion” remains (Rev 16:19): and Jesus eats “a portion” to remain in communion; “a part” will remain in communion.

Here is the prophecy where it is written: “The Christ must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in his name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem” (Lk 24:46–47). It is written in the Gospel. “Third day”: the third millennium, where all is fulfilled. “A thousand years are like a day, and a day like a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:8), it is written in the Psalms (Psalm 89:4). Here, too, in the Psalms, all is fulfilled. “Conversion” and “forgiveness of sins”: here lies the heart of God’s infinite Mercy (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “The Source of Mercy and Peace”, 19/04/1998) and whoever wishes to be forgiven and find Mercy, let them come, for the Father is ready to welcome and embrace every child who, with sincerity of heart, wishes to ask for forgiveness (Lk 15:20). And from here, once again, the conversion from sin is preached, beginning with Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem was the centre of religion, and that centre has been replaced. Here is the first Covenant giving way to the second Covenant because ‘the city’ has apostatised (Heb 8:13). And so, now, that which is the centre of world religion has once again apostatised, and once again conversion must be preached from there, for catholicity must remain alive to foster and bring about, for all people of good will (Lk 2:14), for all those who wish to do so, the ultimate and final Passage: behold the eternal Easter, from the second to the third: Second Covenant, Third Covenant (Act of the Magisterium, “How to live the holiness of the Son of God: Easter for every heart that in Him desires to aspire to eternal Life”, 06/04/2025). And all is fulfilled anew, in the final eschatology.

“You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). Then He said this to His first Friends; now Jesus says it to you, dear brothers and sisters. You are witnesses to all this, for you have seen with your own eyes the wonders that Jesus has wrought (1 Jn 1:1) and continues to wrought daily in this Land of Love. You are witnesses, dear brothers and sisters, and your witness is true and faithful (Jn 21:24).

“And I will send upon you what my Father has promised” (Lk 24:49a). Behold, here the Spirit of Comfort has descended, just as the Father promised: “I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter to be with you” (Jn 14:16), as it is written in the Gospel. And again: “ The Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (Jn 14:26). And again: “When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me” (Jn 15:26).

Here is the fulfilment of every promise, so that we may put into practice the final invitation the Master addresses to us, now as then: “Stay in the city, so that you may be clothed from on high with the power of God” (Lk 24:49b). Let us remain, dear brothers and sisters, in this City, the Holy City. Let us remain in Mary, the Holy City, the Tabernacle of God, the New Jerusalem, so that we may remain grafted onto her Immaculate Heart, consecrate ourselves daily to her Heart, and invite everyone to do the same (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “Mary, I consecrate myself to You”, 10/03/1986) because in Mary there is Salvation, because, united with Christ, Mary saves (Pontifical Decree, “In Mary, with Mary and through Mary”, 22/12/2019).

Here are the words that Jesus revealed to His Maiden in the Revelation “The Holy City”: “Let each of my children be ready to be received by the King of kings, to live together with the Angels and the Saints who will come here in great numbers. There will be little difference between the Paradise where they now are and the City which they already know well and which, through my presence, will be a part of the Father’s Paradise itself” (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia, “The Holy City”, 28/06/1996). Thanks to the presence of Jesus, behold, Paradise is already here.

Let us leave fairy tales to others; let us remain rooted in the Holy City, New Jerusalem (Act of Magisterium, “The Shrine of New Jerusalem”, 5 June 2022), so that we may already experience the endless Joy that Jesus has given us here.

The world is in turmoil and lives indeed in doubt and anxiety because each day we do not know what may happen. Many are “glued” to the news to see if one thing or another is happening. Here is the doubt, the uncertainty and the anguish that have taken hold in so many hearts.

For God’s children, Joy is endless because Certainty has swept away doubt and all anxiety. Cast away all anxiety, cast away all despondency, cast away all discouragement (Jn 14:1) because Jesus has kept His promises and has returned here, alive and true (Revelation of Jesus to Maria G. Norcia “The Dwelling Established by Jesus”, 09/03/1997): not “a ghost” but the true God-Man. So be it.