Meditatioin Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“He was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them and their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 24:13-35), we hear the story about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Two of Jesus’ disciples are reflecting upon the events which had just transpired when the risen Christ joins them. Then two men do not recognize Jesus. It is obvious that the two men are saddened by all that has happened. The men have lost hope and began to feel that life has no meaning. The men reflect on the life of Jesus, his crucifixion and his death. Jesus sees the sorrow in their hearts and reaches out to them to nourish them. When they reach Emmaus, the two men ask Jesus to join them for supper. At supper, he takes the bread of life, blesses it and gives it to them. Once they received the bread, “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” How many times have we let despair crush our hope? How many times have we lost sight of Christ in our lives? Today’s Gospel reading talks about the journey. No matter where we are, Christ is with us. We might not recognize his presence, but he is there. We all must journey to Emmaus. It is through the journey that we find the bread of life. The two disciples reflect, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” Christ burns within all of us when we encounter him. When we lose hope and are over come with despair, the flame dims. But when we read the scriptures and when we participate in the Eucharist, the fire of Christ burns strong within us. It is the journey which leads to the encounter. The two disciples originally saw defeat in the cross, but once they experienced Christ, the realized that he truly was the risen Lord and savior. We too must see the path which leads through the cross to life everlasting. We must be able to see the risen Christ.

A Simple Prayer

Father God, my heart burns for your love.

May I open the scriptures to all who I encounter.

May I take your message with me as I journey through life.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon