In today’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35) we hear of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to the two disciples as they traveled the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem.
These disciples, who had invested so much of themselves in Jesus, were likely devastated after the events of the preceding days. Aware that their messiah-king had been arrested and put to death, they were likely experiencing a host of emotions – from disappointment and confusion, to anxiety and stress, to grief and fear. To say that these disciples were troubled is certainly an understatement. That journey out of Jerusalem was in many ways a necessary “escape” for these disciples.
And we know that as the disciples journeyed, Jesus came to walk with them and help them with their troubles. Jesus worked slowly though, as God always does. At first, Jesus’ true identity was hidden from the disciples as Jesus cited scripture that illuminated – and eased – their hearts and minds. Over the course of the journey to Emmaus, Jesus revealed to the disciples how the events of the preceding days were truly in accordance with God’s loving plan. And then, once they reached their destination, Jesus fully revealed himself to them in the breaking of the bread – a grace which allowed those disciples to see the risen Jesus as the absolute fulfillment of God’s loving plan.
And it is the same for us. When disappointment and confusion distract us, when anxiety and stress overwhelm us, when fear and grief consume us, when our faith is shaken, when we need our own “escape”, we can be assured that Jesus walks with us. And like he did for those disciples, Jesus will comfort us by revealing himself as a friend who loves us dearly, and by reminding us that God’s plan for us – while it may include trials and suffering – is a good and loving plan.
But of course, like it was for those disciples, many times this revelation comes over time – God’s time, not our time. Sometimes our journey out of darkness into light might be longer than we’d like. But like those disciples, we keep our hearts and minds open to Jesus. We talk to him. We allow him to talk to us. We embrace him. We allow him to embrace us. We open our minds and let his Word penetrate us. We open our hearts and let his loving presence fill us. And in the end, like those two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we will be graced with a renewed faith and with the hope that flows from our faith in our loving God.