ACTS 2: 14, 22-33
PSALM 15: 1-2, 5, 7-11
1 PETER 1: 17-21
LUKE 24: 13-35
The two disciples in the Gospel story are leaving Jerusalem. By leaving Jerusalem, in a way they are turning away from Jesus. And they do so because they are despondent, things have not turned out the way they were hoping.
The road to Emmaus is familiar road that we all take. It represents the road of disappointment, failure, sorrow, grief, shattered dreams, suffering. Our sufferings, our problems, hurts and wounds can acquire a lot of power over us and lead us to despair.
We all know people who have left the Church for one reason or another. It may be because of a bad experience in the Church, or because of a life experience in which they have felt abandoned by God or the Church.
Each of us would have experienced tragedies and bad experiences that can challenge our faith. In some way today’s Gospel story could be our story.
As in the story though, we see that Jesus will not abandon us. We may not recognize his presence because our despair and bitterness have blinded us to His presence, but he is there with us. But what makes some people persevere in faith and continue the journey?
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus on that road spoke to them of the scriptures that spoke of him. For them, the scriptures were very much the heart of their faith and understanding of God’s presence to them. As Jesus spoke, their hearts burned within them.
For us too, our faith in God is central. Our faith in God should never be taken for granted. It is our faith that leaves a door open to God.
However, if our faith is founded on a relationship with certain Church leaders who we admire and not on God who saved us, then we follow a dangerous road. For people even our leaders are weak and do fail in their own journey but God is holy and always faithful to us. Our faith must always be on God.
This is the time then for prayer and the sacraments. In the story, we saw how the scriptures touched their hearts and how the disciples recognize Jesus at the breaking of bread, the Eucharist. Prayer, reflecting on the scriptures, the story of God’s love for us, and the Sacraments are gifts to help us know God that we may grow in faith and trust in God.
And there are also a lot of other people out there wounded in their faith, struggling to find God in their lives. Our response should never be one of condemnation but of compassion.
Like Jesus, we should walk beside them always ready to support them.
As Jesus explained the scriptures to them, we could do the same. But the scriptures we explain should also be the one that is written in our soul, our own experience of God. It is not so much spoken with words but through action: our own love for God and our love for our neighbour.
Never abandon a wounded brother or sister to struggle alone. We are God’s Church, God’s family. Never give up in the face of evil in the world.
Never give up faith and hope in God.
Jesus said, “I am there with YOU always, till the end of time.”
Merredin Catholic Parish 