The Lord’s appearance on the road was mysterious. The disciples did not immediately perceive him—and for a number of reasons that we can surmise: the lack of understanding concerning his resurrection, their lack of faith that good Friday did not end in defeat, their fear about their own future.
So too with us. Certainly our weak faith, our fears and anxieties, often keep us from detecting the presence of the Lord. Theologically, we know that God dwells within the soul in a state of grace, and our that the Lord is really and truly present in the Eucharist. The request, “stay with us, Lord” has been answered by God—through sanctifying grace and the gift of the Sacraments. We know this to be true, theologically, intellectually. And yet, we also know there is a difference between knowing something in our heads, and knowing it in our hearts.
Likely, it is more up to God than our own efforts that the veil of that heart knowledge of the His presence is made known. But when that veil is pulled back, oh boy, we cry out with the disciples, “stay with us”.
And yet, we know too, that those moments of profound intimate heart knowledge of God are often fleeting, for they are but a foretaste of heaven. God grants these holy moments, these spiritual consolations, to spurn us on in the Christian life. And we do well to recall them in moments of temptation and desolation.
We also do well to dispose our souls to the gift of heavenly consolation, through prayer and charitable works.
In an article for the Universe Bulletin, dear departed Bishop Lennon wrote a powerful description of this powerful spiritual dynamic. He wrote: “ when our life is centered on a false God of prosperity, prestige, or mere pursuit of the good life—one will likely reap a harvest of exhaustion and unhappiness. But, the person and family, who places Christ at the center of life, including God in their weekly schedules and activities, meals, chores, conversations, parenting, work, vacations, civic responsibilities, decisions, problems, crises, accomplishments, losses—the whole of their lives become changed and charged with God’s presence.”
Having broke bread with the Lord, the disciples of Emmaus “set out immediately” in order to report what they had seen. The Christian whose life is charged and changed by the Risen Lord becomes an effective instrument of bringing souls to Christ. There are many souls who have not met the Lord, who long to meet him, and often it’s in sharing our encounters with the Lord that will touch them and draw them closer to Him.
May our Easter celebrations help us to put and keep the Lord at the center of our lives, and share our Easter faith with the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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