"Risen Lamb Writings"
"The Journey From Heart Burn to
Burning Hearts"
In one sense this Sunday's Gospel from
St. Luke, the story of "the two disciples on the road to Emmaus", depicts in
story form the two parts of every Roman Catholic mass: The liturgy of the word;
and the liturgy of the Eucharist. Jesus loves us so much that he comes to us
in every mass to be with us. In every mass he meets us where we are and
leads us to where he is going: Through death to life. One might say that this
story of "the Road to Emmaus" depicts with symbols the first "healing mass",
and certainly the first "mass of the resurrection". It also reflects a movement
from "the cemetery" to celebration!
In this gospel passage, two downcast
disciples are walking to a village seven miles from Jerusalem. They know of the
crucifixion and death of Jesus. They have followed him and given their yes to
him only to see him crucified. They have not yet encountered him as risen from
the dead. They believe falsely that Jesus' crucifixion means the failure of his
mission and ministry, when in truth his crucifixion is really about his
victory! Their hopes are deflated, their hearts are defeated. Might we
say that in their defeated emotional state they are 'walking away from the
faith'. If this is so, then today there are many in our world and nation who
are 'abandoning the faith' on the road to Emmaus.
First "Jesus himself drew near and
walked with them" (Luke 24:15). The Good Shepherd always goes after the
scattered, lost sheep. Jesus is always present to us in our pain and loss...and
yes, he is also present to us in the midst of the Coronavirus. He is our
ever present "Shelter in place" ("You hide them in the shelter of
your presence"--Psalm 31:21). Jesus listens to the grief of the two disciples
as they relay their story of 'losing' him to death: "We were hoping that he
would be the one" (Luke 24:31). Then, Jesus speaks into their hearts his words
which are Spirit and life. He engages them fully, actively and consciously,
awakening their hearts to the dawning of a new hope. He's changing their
"heartburn" into burning hearts!
The two disciples begin to revive. Then
Jesus "presides" at the meal with them and
as "He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them,
"their eyes were opened and they recognized him" (Luke 24:30-31). At every
mass, Jesus speaks his words first into our hearts at the liturgy of the word;
then he speaks his words into the bread and wine we bring to him, and he
changes them into his Body and Blood. Jesus knows how to transform crushed
hearts into burning hearts. He knows how to lead our hearts and spirits from
death to life. He knows how to turn us back toward "Jerusalem". Resurrection
connection sets our lives in a new direction!
Scriptures:
Psalm 42:6; Songs
3:1-4; John 20: 11-18
Questions:
1)
Do
I know of anyone who may be walking in defeat right now--anxious, downcast,
disheartened, deeply discouraged--either by the current reality of the Coronavirus, or by some other reality?
Is God asking me to journey with them on an "Emmaus" walk?
