This week's readings are a real treat for me as they are among my favourites.
Today's wonderful Gospel relates the story of two heartbroken and disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem after the death of Jesus. They are joined by a stranger.
My own reflections
The road to Emmaus runs through all our lives and by the time we reach the mid point of it we may well have a great deal of knowledge of the Scriptures.
But this alone is no use unless we have had a few times when we have found ourselves in situations where our eyes and hearts are honestly opened to the presence of Christ.
But we cannot travel the road entirely alone.
We have to experience the Eucharist in community, to recognise Christ in the breaking of bread. We have to be broken to receive it too.
Here is a great commentary from Joyful Heart Blog which also has many James Tissot paintings.
Lyrics to the Hymn: Two Were Bound For Emmaus
Two were bound for Emmaus,
disheartened and lost;
all their hope for the future
had been nailed to a cross.
Love unknown then walked beside them,
come back from the dead,
and they knew He was risen
in the breaking of bread.
disheartened and lost;
all their hope for the future
had been nailed to a cross.
Love unknown then walked beside them,
come back from the dead,
and they knew He was risen
in the breaking of bread.
On the Sea of Tiberius,
when the night was nearly gone
and their toil seemed so useless,
not one fish had they caught,
from the shore the stranger called to them;
"Cast your net, friends, once more."
And they filled it to bursting,
but the net was not torn.
when the night was nearly gone
and their toil seemed so useless,
not one fish had they caught,
from the shore the stranger called to them;
"Cast your net, friends, once more."
And they filled it to bursting,
but the net was not torn.
Then they knew it was Jesus
and they hastened in to shore;
bread and fish for their breakfast
from the hands of their Lord.
"O Peter, if you love me
you must care for my sheep;
if you follow your Shepherd,
then a shepherd you'll be."
When the road makes us weary,
when our labour seems but loss,
when the fire of faith weakens
and too high seems the cost,
let the Church turn to her risen Lord,
who for us bore the cross,
and we'll find our hearts burning
at the sound of His voice.
Two were bound for Emmaus,
disheartened and lost;
all their hope for the future
had been nailed to a cross.
Love unknown then walked beside them,
come back from the dead,
and they knew he was risen
in the breaking of bread.
disheartened and lost;
all their hope for the future
had been nailed to a cross.
Love unknown then walked beside them,
come back from the dead,
and they knew he was risen
in the breaking of bread.
3 comments:
We have to be broken to receive it too.
I like this very much, Phil. Thank you.
Phil, thank you for this. In many ways, it's a companion piece to my Emmaus Road reading which, I cringe to confess, is not quite as charitable toward the disciples. Such are the complexities of our walk with Christ, I think--that we can feel disappointed that He doesn't move in ways that meet our expectations one minute, and then exult in the revelation of His presence the next!
Blessings,
Tim
Yes!! I have left a comment on your wonderful Emmaus post.I don't think you were that hard on the two of them but they say hindsight nearly always gives us 20: 20 vision so we may be at a slight advantage.(I think the Curia in the Vatican could all do with an eye test in light of the current goings on!!- don't let me get started on that!!)
Thanks Tim
Blessings to you too !!
Phil
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