Road to Emmaus

 

Today we hear the familiar story of the road to Emmaus. The two disciples are on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were conversing about all the things that had occurred. We hear how energized they had been by the life they had experienced in Jesus, and about how they were reeling from his suffering and death. And then a stranger walked with them, asking them why they looked so downcast. How could he not know about the things that had happened? Whoever this stranger was, they felt comfortable enough to share their raw disappointment about what had happened to Jesus. They had hoped that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. Their hopes were dashed.

In many ways the disciples represent us. At the Eucharist Jesus joins us in a special way. Jesus is always with me, guiding me, helping me to be joyful, and to give me hope and joy. One of my favorite songs for this time is In the Breaking of the Bread by Michael Ward. It reminds me that God is at work in us, as God was through Jesus, leading us to walk through the loss of the past, and any turmoil in the present, into the future that God dreams for us.

"In the Breaking of the Bread" by Michael Philip Ward

1) In the walking on the road, we saw Him. In the telling of our hopes, we saw Him. In the burning of our hearts, we saw the Lord. At the meal He took the bread and then He blessed it, broke it, offered it.

Refrain: In the breaking of the bread, we saw Him! Suddenly our eyes were opened, and we knew he was alive.

2) We set out to find His friends to tell them. We went to Jerusalem to tell them; and with joy we told them, "We have seen the Lord!" And as we were speaking there, He stood among us, blessed us, said to us, "Now my peace I leave with you."

3) But then we became afraid without Him. In the darkened room we stayed without Him, waiting for the One He said that He would send. Then the Spirit of the Lord came down upon us, filling us, changing us, giving us the strength to say:

 4) We ran out into the street to tell them, everyone that we could meet, to tell them, "God has raised Him up and we have seen the Lord!" We took bread as He had done and then we blessed it, broke it, offered it.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Pray for Peace

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Traditionally celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, honors God’s infinite mercy, a devotion revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska.

Yesterday, Pope Leo led the world in a prayer service for an end to the war in Iran. Pope Leo said, "Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics. We must form ourselves and get personally involved, each following our own calling. 
Everyone has a place in the mosaic of peace!" 

He went on to observe that the Rosary, like other ancient forms of prayer, united the faithful in its steady rhythm built on repetition, pointing out that peace gains ground in the same way, "word by word, deed by deed, just as a rock is hollowed out drop by drop, or fabric woven stitch by stitch." The Holy Father reminded that these are the slow rhythms of life, a sign of God’s patience. 

"We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather," he suggested, "we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds."

Let us pray this day for peace in our world, in our hearts, and in our homes.

 

A Prayer for Easter

 A Prayer for Easter

 Before the Resurrection, so much suffering had to be endured.

Before the tomb was left behind, death was the harsh reality.

You call us, O Lord, to recognize

that both suffering and Easter hope

are part of our journey as we follow you.

You call us to hold, at the same time,

both death and new life in our hands,

so we may be embraced

by the Paschal mystery

and thus be renewed

for the healing work ahead.

Grant us wisdom, O Lord;

grant us Easter grace.

Amen.

Jane Deren, “A Prayer for Easter.” Copyright c 2021, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern. www.educationforjustice.org. Used with permission.

                                                          "The Empty Tomb" by Julia Stankova