Road to Emmaus

First Reading: Acts 3:1-10
Psalm: Ps 105:1-4, 6-9
Gospel: Lk 24:13-35

Friends,

In today's gospel, we join two disciples of Jesus on the way to Emmaus. In this particular story, we see our own journey from our old lives to ones of faith.

We start out on the road, we are burdened with sorrows. Life is not going the way that we thought it should. We speak with our companions along the way, trying to make sense of what should be done now and disagreeing some. The future seems bleak.

All of a sudden, Jesus draws near to us. We're busy with our grief, so it is difficult to recognize Him. He asks what is troubling us, and we tell Him, putting emphasis on the despair that we have at the moment, but also sharing that there are some strange things about. Testimony is given that Jesus is alive, but it is being weighed against what we and others have seen. The evidence is there, but not the proof.

Then, something happens that we would not expect. Jesus (or as He's seen at the moment, a stranger), bruises our ego. For those to Emmaus, He calls them slow of heart, and implies that it should be plain that this hardship had to come to pass. For us today, it might be the loss of a job, or missing the bus, or any of a multitude of other things. "Why wan't God there," we ask? The answer comes, "He was there, and is here. He's asking us to wake up to the truth."

Then the scriptures are studied. As it would happen, the rest of the journey is spent discussing the scriptures, with Jesus giving the interpretations. His words are powerful and even though not everything that He reveals is happy, it is additional evidence that things aren't as hopeless as they appeared at first. All of the answers are here, waiting to be revealed.

At the end of the road, we don't wish to be parted from our new friend. His presence is a comfort that we don't want to lose. In the breaking of the bread, we finally see Him for who He is. This is our Lord! He Lives! We hurry back to share the good news with others because it is too good to keep to ourselves. Others must be told, and at once!

Hmm, strange that. This is also the pattern for the Mass. Coming in heavy with the worries of the weak, listening to the word of God and its interpretation and application to our lives, meeting Christ in the Eucharist, and then departing to share the good news with our friends.

Heavenly Father, Your works are masterful. You have hidden these great mysteries from the wise and revealed them to us. Thank you for our community in the Church, to guide and support us along the way as we grow in faith. We pray that You will guide our leaders and bless them with the understanding that you gave to those on the way to Emmaus. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.