The Gospels walk us along a journey with Jesus that ultimately leads to Jerusalem: to his torture, crucifixion and death… and, ultimately to the glory of his resurrection. Today’s Gospel begins with two disciples leaving Jerusalem, their hopes dashed and their hearts broken…they sadly say…“we had hoped.” They encounter a stranger with whom they share their story and their own doubt at the testimony of the women who had encountered an angel with glad tidings of the resurrection and all the ensuing confusion amongst their group. Their faith seems gone…their hope vanquished. But Jesus will not allow them to continue in their despair. He journeys with them in an attempt to turn them around…to restore their hope and their faith, ultimately giving them a new purpose in life: the proclamation of the Good News of the resurrection!
As they walk along the road their hearts are set afire and burn within them…their hope and faith in Jesus Christ is rekindled. Jesus reveals himself to them in the breaking of the bread…they dared not even speak the question of who this stranger might be because they knew! And even though he vanished from their midst…he remained with them in their trembling hands that held the bread that had been broken and blessed…he remained in their burning hearts. In his absence they felt his real presence and they were forever changed.
Regardless of how many times we may turn away and walk down a different road…Jesus comes after us…he seeks us out and sets our hearts afire once again. Each time we gather to bless, to break and to share the bread, Christ becomes present and invites us to share of his very self. And in this sharing we are more and more transformed into the Risen Body of Christ, not for ourselves but for the sake of the life of the world! We are sent, just like to the original disciples, to carry forth “The Presence” into a wounded world, so desperately in need of healing, we are called to be the stranger who walks with those whose hearts are breaking, whose hopes are dashed, we are called to be bread broken and shared for the sake of the world.
In the midst of this illicit war being waged against Iran, in the midst of a proposed 1.5 trillion dollar budget for the Department of War, in the midst of unaffordable and rising cost of housing, healthcare, food, gas, utilities, …and the list goes on, in the midst of attacks on civil rights and voting rights, in what seems to be a meltdown of our democracy, how is my faith and hope in Jesus sustaining me and keeping me from despair?
In the midst of the political darkness, am I able to keep my eye on the Risen Christ, knowing that he has the long game and that I have my part to do as well…that I am called to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, living out my discipleship of Jesus Christ in concrete ways that clearly will be at odds with this administration and it’s agenda, as we have seen manifested recently in their words directed at Pope Leo. The Pope has clearly called us to resist this war on Iran and to contact Congress and let them know that we stand against it and want it to cease! Now! Even though our voices may fall on ears that choose not to hear, even though we may be ignored, let us not be silent. Let us raise our voices for justice and for peace. It is what our discipleship of Jesus Christ calls us to do.
Like the breaking of the bread moment was for the two disciples, what moments have I had when I felt the presence of the Risen Christ in my life? How did it affect me? How can I be “the Presence” to others I encounter in my life? Who has been the least likely “Presence” to me…what did I learn from the encounter?
May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you always,
Fr. Tim
As they walk along the road their hearts are set afire and burn within them…their hope and faith in Jesus Christ is rekindled. Jesus reveals himself to them in the breaking of the bread…they dared not even speak the question of who this stranger might be because they knew! And even though he vanished from their midst…he remained with them in their trembling hands that held the bread that had been broken and blessed…he remained in their burning hearts. In his absence they felt his real presence and they were forever changed.
Regardless of how many times we may turn away and walk down a different road…Jesus comes after us…he seeks us out and sets our hearts afire once again. Each time we gather to bless, to break and to share the bread, Christ becomes present and invites us to share of his very self. And in this sharing we are more and more transformed into the Risen Body of Christ, not for ourselves but for the sake of the life of the world! We are sent, just like to the original disciples, to carry forth “The Presence” into a wounded world, so desperately in need of healing, we are called to be the stranger who walks with those whose hearts are breaking, whose hopes are dashed, we are called to be bread broken and shared for the sake of the world.
In the midst of this illicit war being waged against Iran, in the midst of a proposed 1.5 trillion dollar budget for the Department of War, in the midst of unaffordable and rising cost of housing, healthcare, food, gas, utilities, …and the list goes on, in the midst of attacks on civil rights and voting rights, in what seems to be a meltdown of our democracy, how is my faith and hope in Jesus sustaining me and keeping me from despair?
In the midst of the political darkness, am I able to keep my eye on the Risen Christ, knowing that he has the long game and that I have my part to do as well…that I am called to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, living out my discipleship of Jesus Christ in concrete ways that clearly will be at odds with this administration and it’s agenda, as we have seen manifested recently in their words directed at Pope Leo. The Pope has clearly called us to resist this war on Iran and to contact Congress and let them know that we stand against it and want it to cease! Now! Even though our voices may fall on ears that choose not to hear, even though we may be ignored, let us not be silent. Let us raise our voices for justice and for peace. It is what our discipleship of Jesus Christ calls us to do.
Like the breaking of the bread moment was for the two disciples, what moments have I had when I felt the presence of the Risen Christ in my life? How did it affect me? How can I be “the Presence” to others I encounter in my life? Who has been the least likely “Presence” to me…what did I learn from the encounter?
May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you always,
Fr. Tim
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