This Third Sunday of Easter we hear one of my favourite passages from the Gospel: the Road to Emmaus. This event is only recorded in the Gospel of Luke, and it would be wrong to think of it merely as another resurrection appearance. Embedded in the story is the blueprint of the Mass, in which Jesus himself explains the scriptures and then celebrates the Eucharist, making himself known “in the breaking of the bread” (Lk 24:31). Is this not the origins of the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist? 2000 years later, in parishes around the world, we are still following the model instituted by Christ himself. We can take great confidence in the fact that Our Lord is still active within his Church; he has not abandoned us, even in our current times of global pandemic. So great is Jesus’ love for us, he is even willing to accompany us when we turn from him and walk in the other direction.
This brings us to the second, and perhaps more profound message of this Gospel passage. Recall that the two disciples of Jesus are walking away from Jerusalem, away from the holy city, the tangible location of God’s presence on earth in the temple. They even lament, “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Lk 24:21). Notice the tense – “we had hoped” – the pluperfect statement indicates that they no longer hope, that their faith in Jesus is now gone. Yet even as his followers abandon him and walk away, Jesus remains by their side, ready to accompany them in the wrong direction, so as eventually to bring them back to himself. And he does the same with us.
In this time of uncertainty and confusion, when we may be tempted to doubt God’s plan, or turn away from him, let us remember that Jesus is always with us. Now, the Lord’s abiding presence does not include the promise of an easy, painless life. On the contrary, we can expect trials and suffering. Jesus says as much: “In this world you will face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33). Let us not embrace the pluperfect tense of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, saying, “We had hoped.” Rather let us be people strong in faith, proclaiming we have hoped, we hope now, and we will always hope in the Lord Jesus, who loves us and abides with us through every difficulty and trail. And in God’s good time, we will weather this storm together.
My friends, keep the faith.
Kevin Ponte – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta
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