See Him

Today’s Gospel reading is about Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).   Has Jesus himself drawn near and walked with us today?  If so, have we recognized him?  The two disciples on the way to Emmaus from Jerusalem didn’t.  Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him, until after he was with them at table, took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Find him hidden among the doves (refocus your eyes).

Pope Francis highlighted Emmaus in his July 22-29, 2013 visit to Brazil.  He said the following about our needing a “Church of Emmaus” as reported by Thomas Reese of the National Catholic Reporter:  “Using the Gospel story of Emmaus, Francis talked to the bishops about people who have left the church because they ‘now think that the church  - their Jerusalem - can no longer offer them anything meaningful and important.’ He does not blame the culture, he does not harangue against relativism, consumerism and other ‘isms;’ rather, he calls for self-examination by the bishops." 

Faced with this Emmaus situation, Francis suggested:  “We need a church unafraid of going forth into their night. We need a church capable of meeting them on their way. We need a church capable of entering into their conversation. We need a church able to dialogue with those disciples who, having left Jerusalem behind, are wandering aimlessly, alone, with their own disappointment, disillusioned by a Christianity now considered barren, fruitless soil, incapable of generating meaning…”

He asked, “Are we still a church capable of warming hearts? A church capable of leading people back to Jerusalem? Of bringing them home? Jerusalem is where our roots are: scripture, catechesis, sacraments, community, friendship with the Lord, Mary and the apostles. … Are we still able to speak of these roots in a way that will revive a sense of wonder at their beauty?"

He asked, "Unless we train ministers capable of warming people's hearts, of walking with them in the night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending their brokenness, what hope can we have for our present and future journey?”  He insisted: "We need a church capable of rediscovering the maternal womb of mercy. Without mercy we have little chance nowadays of becoming part of a world of 'wounded' persons in need of understanding, forgiveness and love."

Next time Christ is placed in our hands (or on our tongues) after our priests have taken the bread, said the blessing, have broken the bread, and given it to us, let’s make sure our eyes are opened and we recognize him.   We don’t want him vanishing from our sight.   After all, we need him to help us warm people’s hearts, mend brokenness, and show mercy.

Deacon David Pierce