Emmaus

The disciples recalled that Jesus made their hearts “burn within them” as they met him as a stranger on the road to Emmaus, talking with them about their experiences. Fr Timothy Radcliffe comments in his book, Alive in God, that most art, novels, films poetry explore life but Christianity makes people’s hearts burn within them just as he did with the disciples on their way to Emmaus.

Christianity is not a moral code to keep us in order but a vibrant way of life. The encounter with Jesus is one which is life giving. It rolls away the stone, keeping us locked into ourselves and overcomes our deepest fear. The disciples followed Jesus’ call on an adventure that leads them to from joy and amazement to the utter desolation of death on the cross to be propelled to the ends of the known earth to share this life giving love of God.

We can live this amazing adventure in a solitary place, rather as a monastic order might do, or in a family. We can have hilaritas as St Augustine put it, an exuberant joy which takes us out of ourselves, our locked in lives and releases us to live lives to the full by sharing God’s love with others.

Where shattered hearts are made whole,
where wounded souls are healed,
where life is stronger than death:
there, the stone has been rolled away.

Where the lonely become our friends,
where a stranger is welcomed home,
where hope is stronger than despair,
there, we find Jesus walking.

Where closed minds and hearts are opened,
where the anxious find serenity,
where love is stronger than hate:
there, Jesus is opening our eyes.

The stone has been rolled away!
Jesus is our companion on the journey!
Our eyes are opened to the needs of others!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Alleluia! Christ is with us!

Amen