Last Sunday, we heard about Thomas, who doubted the resurrection of Christ, later his doubt led to a deeper relationship with Jesus – “my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:23). In today’s gospel, St. Luke tells us the story about the appearance of Christ, to two disciples, on the road to Emmaus. After the event of Good Friday, the disciples gave up hope, returning home depressed. On their way, they talked about Jesus; how he worked many miracles, raised the dead, but allowed his enemies to put him to death.
Their lack of understanding and faith made them dismiss the message of his death and resurrection. Suddenly, Jesus joined them, but they didn’t recognize him. Later, their eyes and minds opened to understand that everything written about Jesus in the law of Moses and the prophets must be fulfilled. He must suffer before entering his glory. With that encounter, they overcame despair hurrying back to Jerusalem, telling the other disciples their experience and how they recognized Jesus in the breaking of bread.
Listening to this inspiring story, I want us to take the following lessons home.
The journey of the disciples represents our own Christian journey in life. The moments we doubt God’s love. When our preconceived ideas don’t work, we are tempted to think that God is not paying attention. We are tempted to go back to Emmaus as the disciples did.
In the peak of the pandemic, a woman called telling me that her son contracted Covid-19. I felt from the conversation she had lost hope in God and was afraid of losing her son. She said that God answered her prayers often but not this time. Knowing her faith was being tested, I validated her feelings advising her to pray for God’s divine intervention.
Days later, she called to say that her son was discharged and improving. She said that the Blessed Virgin Mary and her son Jesus, heard her prayers. I say that Jesus was with her during that time, but her eyes and mind were closed, so it went unrecognized. Later she understood, after her own encounter with Jesus, that suffering is part of our journey. She only needed faith to hear his voice and feel his presence. Her story can be compared to the two whom Jesus rebuked; “you men of little faith, slow to believe all that the prophets spoke about”.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the story of the two disciples and of this woman, give us hope that Jesus is alive, walking with us, even in moments of doubt. All we need is faith. Jesus wants us to understand that God’s ways are not our ways, what we consider to be failure and tragedy, may be a triumph of God’s eternal plan. When things don’t go according to plan, we shouldn’t give up on God but continue to trust in him.
Finally, the two disciples missed the significance of the message because they were focused on disappointments. They were walking away from the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem. We too can miss Jesus when we become preoccupied. We must understand that when one door closes, another opens. When our hopes and trust are gone, we must come closer and listen to his voice. We will recognize his presence.
Fr. John Owusu-Achiaw, C.S.Sp.