Today
we recall the Resurrection appearance of Jesus on the Road to Emmaus – Emmaus –
7 miles from Jerusalem – it became famous 200 years before Christ – Judas the
Maccabee (the Hammer) and his army won a victory at Emmaus against the Syrian
forces of Antiochus Epiphanes – whose name meant “God Manifest.”
A
few days after that victory the Maccabees
took back the temple and tore down the Statue of Zeus – They wanted to light the menorah – 8 branch
candlestick - but had only 1 flask of
pure oil – one day’s worth – miraculously, the oil lasted 8 days – later, this
became known as Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights
Sadly,
Emmaus was no longer a place of victory – now it was a place of defeat. Jesus
is dead – although Peter did speak of an empty tomb and some women said something
about seeing him – but please, it must be all nonsense. The dream is over. So,
they are walking away – in the wrong direction.
Human
beings are always going in the wrong direction. Dante writes in the Divine
Comedy: “Midway in the journey of my life – I found myself in a dark wood, for
the straight way was lost.” They are lost!
Their
other mistake – they left the community – they are off on their own – fear and
doubt can grow when we are alone. This is one of the reasons we gather for Mass,
even this way – because we need one another – we support one another – we lift
each other up!
A Stranger
joins them - I find that very comforting – even when we are going the wrong
way, God searches for us and still walks with us.
Now
- why could they not see it was Jesus?
-
Resurrected body? Did he look different? Or -
-
Just could not be Him! Did not fit!
The
Stranger asks – what are you discussing? They give him a look – what is wrong
with you? Don’t you know what happened??
– Actually, HE IS the ONLY ONE
who really knew what happened! But we are so quick to tell God what we know,
and what God should have done! The Stranger lets them talk on.
The
Stranger then begins to make connections – was this not spoken of in the
Scriptures? – the Messiah first must suffer! There is so much we can learn from
the Scriptures: Every Sunday night for the last 40 years I have prayed Psalm 91
– “You will not fear the terror of the night – nor the arrow that flies by day –
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness – nor the scourge that lays waste at
noon.” Never have those words had such meaning for me as they do now!
The
Stranger seems to have further to go – they make their best decision of the day
- stay with us – act of hospitality - a brilliant move – God never imposes – it
is by our invitation. Recall painting in St. Paul’s, London. Light of the World
by Paul Hunt – Behold I stand knocking at the door - Handle on inside – we must
open the door. Now more than ever, invite Him into your home – He may seem like
a Stranger – but it is the Lord!
He
enters as a guest – becomes the Host - That is what we call the piece of Bread –
A Host. The Host takes The Host – breaks it - Their eyes were opened - It was Jesus! - They knew Him in the
Breaking of the Bread – Eucharist.
No
longer a stranger, Jesus is revealed to them in Word – Eucharist – when 2 or 3
are gathered.
This
is one reason why these days are so hard – we miss Eucharist – we miss
one another – two out of three – so why do we give them up for now?
Many
people watch Gov Cuomo as he speaks about the pandemic. He and our civic
leaders are facing enormous challenges, and we must pray for them every day.
But he said something last week that upset many people of faith:
“The
number is down because we brought the number down.
God
did not do that. Faith did not do that.”
My Dear
Governor – a reason why the number is down is because so many of us have been
taught to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.” Many, many people
are doing what they are doing, are serving, are in healthcare because they are
living out their faith.
And
we are making the sacrifice of not gathering for the Eucharist, of not
gathering together - precisely because we Love God – who teaches us that love
is willing the good of the other and there is a cost to that – and right now,
for the good of every person - we put things on hold – because we love our
brothers and sisters.
So,
you see, this is where God is at work - in the hearts of believers – so, God
did not do that – faith did not do that? On the contrary!
They
said, were not our hearts burning within us – they are burning with the fire of
God’s love – a love we pray, that will one day again bring us together for the
Eucharist!
