Emmaus - Emmanuel

Today's Scripture

A while back, at a workshop, a Benedictine priest by the name of Fr. Boniface Hicks showed us this picture and asked: what is this a picture of? Answer: the Road to Emmaus. When did this happen? Answer: on Easter. Then he shared this revelation with us (paraphrased):

This was not just an Easter - it was THE Easter. It was Resurrection Day, salvation day, victory day. It was a day that had been in the mind of God since before He breathed life into the nostrils of Adam. It was the culmination of millennia of trust building that God had done with humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve. It was victory over death for humanity, and the opening of the gates of heaven for us. It was, without question, the most important day humanity has ever known. How did Jesus spend His time that day? A Feast? A festal gathering? Receiving glory and praise from His followers? No. He spent most of that day walking with two guys who had given up and were walking the wrong way.

He was being Emmanuel - God with us! As Christians, who have received His Word in our hearts and some who have received His Body and Blood into our own, we become the Body of Christ that longs to accompany others. So much so that we would abandon all other pursuits and walk with, console, listen and talk with those who are troubled, doubting, grieving.

All of the Popes since Vatican II have affirmed the need for accompaniment as the primary form of Evangelization. Here are just a few examples.

Pope St. John Paul II: - “The Church’s closeness to every person is expressed in her willingness to accompany them in the concrete circumstances of their life.”

Pope Benedict: “ [W]e need a church capable of walking at people’s side, of doing more than simply listening to them; a church that accompanies them on their journey;

Pope Francis: - “The Church will have to initiate everyone—priests, religious and laity—into this art of accompaniment, which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.”

The path of Emmaus - listening, consoling and sometimes sharing and teaching leads to an experience of Emmanuel - God with Us. We must become practiced in this 'art'. EASTER CHALLENGE: Think and pray about one person in your life who might need accompaniment. Also seek out those who might accompany us. Make a plan to meet with one person regularly who you will accompany and one person regularly who will accompany you.