Tag: Emmaus People

Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus – Part II
Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus – Part II

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Pieter Coecke van Aelst: Christ and His Disciples on Their Way to Emmaus

Yesterday we spent time with the story of the disciples who encounter Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Today we imagine the possibilities in our lives if every time we come up against an obstacle we might recognize Christ’s presence and invite him to linger.

In an intense flash, at the breaking of the bread, we suddenly become fully aware of the identity of our companion. We abruptly comprehend why we have felt so light and happy as we journey to Emmaus. We realize that the hopes we have put away may be taken back out. The faith we have placed in God’s plan is still valid. The love we wish to share is still viable. The Teacher has not lied to us in some silly attempt to ease the pain of our days. The Teacher has offered – still offers – an opportunity of intimacy with him previously unknown to humankind. And we disciples who have left Jerusalem in fear and sadness . . . now retrace our steps to return to the crucible of conflict which our Way of living brings us. We are transformed. We no longer allow fear overcome courage. We do what Paul urges all of us to do – and we heard this yesterday – we put on Christ, the only protection we need.

We notice that Jesus leaves when the disciples recognize him, but his Spirit remains. And Jesus expects that now we will be his hands, his feet, his teaching. We are Emmaus People . . .

Tomorrow, thick heads and slow hearts . . .

Images from: https://apilgriminnarnia.com/2016/02/29/emmaus/on-the-road-to-emmaus/ and https://bishopfisher.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/broken-whoa/

A Favorite from March 31, 2009.
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April 2, 2024

Emmaus People, fear, intimacy with God
Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus – Part I
Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus – Part I

Easter Monday, April 1, 2024

Fritz von Uhde: The Road to Emmaus

We are full into Eastertide, my favorite time of year when we want to believe that the story we have heard is true: we are truly free, the miracle of restoration and resurrection exists, we are already building the kingdom. Today’s reading is The Road to Emmaus, a story we hear read out to us at Mass following Easter when our hearts are heavy from witnessing the crucifixion but light because the tomb is empty. If only we might realize that we are Emmaus People, a people who hold a truth too wonderful to keep secret.

I imagine that I have spent much of my life in the same way as these two disciples who leave Jerusalem after the events surrounding Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion. Things have gotten too hot to handle. Disappointment at the squashing of a ground swell movement and the execution of its leader has overcome any sense of joy they have previously experienced. It seems that all good has been wiped from the face of the earth; all light has been sucked from the world. And yet . . . they journey home in hope, sharing stories of the heady glory days when all possibilities were actually possible. They meet a fellow traveler and journey with him, drink in his words feeling oddly satisfied and content . . . they invite him to linger.

Léon-Augustin Lhermitte: Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus)

In an intense flash, at the breaking of the bread, they suddenly become fully aware of the identity of this companion. They abruptly comprehend why they have felt so light and happy as they made their way to Emmaus. They realize that the hopes they had put away may be taken back out. The faith they had placed in God’s plan was still valid. The love they wished to share was still viable. The Teacher had not lied to them in some silly attempt to ease the pain of their days. The Teacher had offered – still offered – an opportunity of intimacy with him previously unknown to humankind. And these two disciples who had left Jerusalem in fear and sadness now retrace their steps to return to the crucible of conflict which their Way of living brought them. They are transformed. They are no longer allowing fear to overcome courage. They do what Paul urges the Ephesians and all of us to do; they have put on Christ, the only protection they need.

We can put ourselves into this story because Luke has left these protagonists nameless.

Things have gotten too hot to handle. Disappointment at the squashing of a ground swell movement and the execution of its leader has overcome any sense of joy we have previously experienced. It seems that all good has been wiped from the face of the earth; all light has been sucked from the world. And yet . . . we journey home in hope, sharing stories of the heady glory days when all possibilities were actually possible. We meet a fellow traveler and journey with him, drink in his words feeling oddly satisfied and content . . . we invite him to linger.

A Favorite from March 31, 2009.

Tomorrow, imagine . . .

Images from: http://www.art-prints-on-demand.com/a/von-uhde-fritz/theroadtoemmausfritzvonuh.html and http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/friend-of-the-humble-supper-at-emmaus-31032
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April 1, 2024

Emmaus People, The Way
Luke 24:13-23: Slowness of Heart
Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Luke 24:13-32

Caravaggio: The Supper at Emmaus

Slowness of Heart

Oh how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

If only we might realize that we are Emmaus People, a people who hold a truth too wonderful to keep secret.

Two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing and debating.

If only we might remember that we are Emmaus People, a people who know that disappointment and despair wither in the face of courage and hope.

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes prevented them from recognizing them.

If only we might recall that we are Emmaus People, a people living the victory of light over darkness, of life over death.

What are you discussing as you walk along?

If only we might affirm that we are Emmaus People, a people accompanied by a God who loves us intensely and forever.

Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?

If only we might avow that we are Emmaus People, a people in the constant companionship of Jesus, our brother.

What sort of things?

If only we might believe that we are Emmaus People, a people in whom the Spirit resides, bringing us Wisdom and Peace.

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.

If only we might trust that we are Emmaus People, a people chosen by God, made in God’s image, held in God’s intimacy.

We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.

If only we might share the Good News that we are all Emmaus People, a people saved and protected, a people guarded, loved and called.

Oh how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!

If only we might realize that we are Emmaus People, a people created and living in union with God, a people holding a truth too wonderful to keep secret.

We travel the road to Emmaus with Jesus at our side, with Jesus engaging us in conversation, with Jesus breaking bread and sharing himself with us. Let us be quick of heart rather than slow. Let us be joyful in spirit rather than downcast. And let us tell the world how our hearts are burning with the fire of Christ’s love.

Tomorrow, return to Jerusalem . . .

Images from: http://www.laboringinthelord.com/2011/02/16/who-is-the-church-part-2/ and http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/caravaggio/
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April 5, 2020

Emmaus People, union with God