Road to Emmaus
Read Luke 24:13-35
If you attend daily Mass this will be the Gospel that all will experience today and it is one of my most favorite passages in 
the Bible. To me it gives us an abreviated version of a person’s faith life in one chapter. It is a story of journey and discovery and hope.
The very first thing we need to note is that these two were leaving Jerusalem. They had not grasped the fullness of the resurrection; you might say their faith was weak but it was still important because this is what they were discussing. Jerusalem was the symbolic center of the then Christian faith and they were walking away from it. The next question we need to ask is: Where were they going? Emmaus. Just the name of a town to us until we realize that in that day it was the equivilant to a spa in this present day. They were leaving their faith as they sought out the pleasures of their present world. But God would not have it and it was in their “lively” discussion that Jesus became present although their eyes were blind to his identity.
Have you ever had one of those “lively” conversations with a family member or a friend? I have and they are wonderful. Its not just an exchange of words or ideas but beliefs and concerns…you trust them enough to share a part of your soul. You might say that in this moment you are in “communion” with them — common union. You don’t have to agree on whatever it is you are talking about but they trust you and you trust them beyond this moment so no matter what is said your relationship remains strong and unbending. Jesus enters into these moments. Scripture tells us where ever there is love so there is God. And where love and God are there is also conversion… if we are open to it. These two men allowed the teachings of the Church/Jesus to impact their lives. But here is something very interesting — it was only AFTER they had shared with Jesus their experiences, their concerns, their doubts, their understandings. God cares about us. Let me repeat that. God cares about us and wants us. Faith is not about rigid mindless acceptance. It is about obedience and PERSONAL assent and PERSONAL gift of self to God. God, who is the creator of all things, could have made us without free will but then when we loved in return where would the gift be? Could it even be called love?
Next, we see the two coming to the inn for the night and Jesus acting like he is going further. What did the two do? They invited him to stay. They still didn’t understand or accept but they acknowledged that what they had shared was important to them. They still didn’t know him as “The Christ” but they liked what they heard and they wanted more. How many times have you or I given up on someone just because they didn’t believe in the “stuff” we believed in? How many times do we associate love with total agreement — you must agree with me or you don’t love me? Very shallow and sad place to be. We love not because they say we are right. We love because we are commanded to. And finally, it was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened and they saw Jesus as the Christ — Communion.
As Catholics we celebrate 50 days of Easter. The conversion that began during Lent must be nurtured and supported throughout the rest of our lives which is why Easter is not just a day in our calendar. Easter is a season that on the calendar lasts 50 days but last for the rest of our lives. Believe. Jesus loves you. Jesus wants you just as you are. Jesus knows that you can be so much more if you only let him love you. Won’t you give it a try? Just take a moment and open your heart to him and let God do the rest. I remain, Your Servant in Christ,
Theresa
Tags: communion, confusion about the resurrection, conversion, Emmaus, friendship, relationship with God
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