Easter Sunday
04/12/09 06:59 Filed in: Crises
"He said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24: 13-35)
Jesus went after them. He tracked them down. At first they didn't recognize Him. They didn't realize there was only one place for Jesus. He belongs right there beside us, ready to catch us when we stumble, ready to lead the way.
Jesus went after them. He tracked them down. At first they didn't recognize Him. They didn't realize there was only one place for Jesus. He belongs right there beside us, ready to catch us when we stumble, ready to lead the way.
"He said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24: 13-35)
In today's Gospel, the Risen Savior goes looking for His disciples and finds two of them on the road to Emmaus, a small hamlet seven miles outside Jerusalem. In their fear and despair, some of the disciples must have retreated there after the crucifixion.
In a sense, we are all on the road to Emmaus, traveling the same “spiritual terrain” that Cleopas and his companion walked that day. The paths our lives take have many twists and turns, dead-ends, detours, and switchbacks. But we have to stay the course. There are no spiritual shortcuts.
Every now and then, we come to a fork in the road where we must make a choice that could change the course of our lives and possibly take us down the wrong path.
Cleopas and his friend had come to that life-changing junction following the path Jesus took to Calvary. When events took a turn for the worse and they found themselves looking upon the crucified Savior, they had a choice to make. They could stay in Jerusalem with the other disciples or they could head for the relative safety of Emmaus.
Like so many of us, when faced with crises and forced to make a decision, the two disciples were scattered in their hearts. They fled. They turned their backs on the Cross.
But God did not abandon them. Jesus went after them. He tracked them down. At first they didn't recognize Him. They didn't realize there was only one place for Jesus. He belongs right there beside us, ready to catch us when we stumble, ready to lead the way.
Luke tells us that Cleopas and his friend were “slow of heart” and did not believe at first, but Jesus persisted. He stirred the ashes in their hearts and rekindled the flames of faith. Their spirits re-ignited, late in the day, and with darkness descending, they rushed back to Jerusalem. They couldn’t wait to retrace their steps.
So, too, in our lives, it is never too late to return to the spiritual practices that strengthen the faith. It means attending Mass regularly, not just on Easter, but as often as possible. It means starting each day with prayer, offering up all our hopes and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our work and play. It means turning our doubts and despair over to Him. It means putting ourselves out for others, sacrificing in order that they might become all they can be.
No matter what direction our life’s journey has taken, it is never too late to retrace our steps.
In today's Gospel, the Risen Savior goes looking for His disciples and finds two of them on the road to Emmaus, a small hamlet seven miles outside Jerusalem. In their fear and despair, some of the disciples must have retreated there after the crucifixion.
In a sense, we are all on the road to Emmaus, traveling the same “spiritual terrain” that Cleopas and his companion walked that day. The paths our lives take have many twists and turns, dead-ends, detours, and switchbacks. But we have to stay the course. There are no spiritual shortcuts.
Every now and then, we come to a fork in the road where we must make a choice that could change the course of our lives and possibly take us down the wrong path.
Cleopas and his friend had come to that life-changing junction following the path Jesus took to Calvary. When events took a turn for the worse and they found themselves looking upon the crucified Savior, they had a choice to make. They could stay in Jerusalem with the other disciples or they could head for the relative safety of Emmaus.
Like so many of us, when faced with crises and forced to make a decision, the two disciples were scattered in their hearts. They fled. They turned their backs on the Cross.
But God did not abandon them. Jesus went after them. He tracked them down. At first they didn't recognize Him. They didn't realize there was only one place for Jesus. He belongs right there beside us, ready to catch us when we stumble, ready to lead the way.
Luke tells us that Cleopas and his friend were “slow of heart” and did not believe at first, but Jesus persisted. He stirred the ashes in their hearts and rekindled the flames of faith. Their spirits re-ignited, late in the day, and with darkness descending, they rushed back to Jerusalem. They couldn’t wait to retrace their steps.
So, too, in our lives, it is never too late to return to the spiritual practices that strengthen the faith. It means attending Mass regularly, not just on Easter, but as often as possible. It means starting each day with prayer, offering up all our hopes and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our work and play. It means turning our doubts and despair over to Him. It means putting ourselves out for others, sacrificing in order that they might become all they can be.
No matter what direction our life’s journey has taken, it is never too late to retrace our steps.
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