Homily for the Week of May 4, 2014

The Third Sunday in Easter, 2014

Acts 2:14, 22-33;  Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11;  1 Peter 1:17-21;  Luke 24:13-35

         When the history of the 20th century is written it will mention the marvelous discoveries in medicine, in technology and communications, and in space exploration. It will mention the progress in eliminating or reducing illiteracy, poverty and discrimination, It will also mention wars. It will mention the brutal repression and killing of thousands by strong willed dictators in various parts of the world.  And the legalized killing of the unborn in this country.

         I mention this today because of our Bible readings.  After the death of Jesus the followers of Jesus became refugees in their country.  At times they were not accepted by their own families. Jesus had died that they might be saved, but it seemed that it would have been a lot better if he had stayed alive. Jesus was not admired by most of his neighbors, and if you decided to follow Jesus, you too would be despised by most persons.

         This week's gospel is the story of two downhearted, discouraged followers of Jesus on the road to Emmaus. A mysterious stranger joins them. They begin a conversation with a man they took to be a complete stranger. They could not hide the fact they were downcast, and they were quick to explain to the stranger the reason for their gloom. Jesus, in whom they believed, had been crucified they said, but we had hoped, they said, that he was the one to redeem Israel.  They felt that the death of Jesus had left them high and dry -- stranded, confused, and at a loss. After listening carefully to their story, the stranger tells them that they are slow to "believe all that the prophets have announced." He then explains the Bible to them.  

         The two men are delighted with the stranger's teaching. But they do not realize that the stranger is Jesus until he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them.  At Mass we too meet Jesus along the road of our lives, and Jesus gives himself to us through these very actions.

         Have you ever wondered would you recognize Jesus if he came among us today? Remember we have no photos of Jesus and all of the art work which shows Jesus one way or another, and all of the Hollywood movie made of Jesus, are based on the imagination of the artist. But Jesus is present among every day in the people we meet, when we gather to pray, and at Mass in the Eucharist. For example, next Sunday we at St. James will honor 12 young boys and girls who for the first time will receive Holy Communion. 

         One of the goals of this weekend Gospel is to teach us how to encounter and recognize Jesus. Recognizing Jesus happens in the context of fulfilling Jesus’ invitation for us to be disciples. But like the close friends of Jesus we too may know the story of Jesus in its entirety,  but they lacked understanding about its meaning.

         Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we also come to know Jesus in the uninvited stranger, in the refugee from war torn countries, in the little baby who was born with severe disabilities; in the 96 year old women who lives alone.  But most importantly, we come to know Jesus more intimately in our hearts. Coming to know Jesus in the depths of our hearts takes time.  Time to let go, settle down. Time to listen to that familiar voice that speaks to us in silence. 

         Regardless of the roads we travel or the places they take us, we will meet Jesus along the way. He comes to us in different ways and we may not always be able to recognize him.  He may come as a stranger on the road, or a newcomer to our road or school or work. He may come as an act of love from someone we know. We may see him in a time of great anxiety, or he may simply be there smiling to us through the face of a crocus or dandelion or flower, or in the the sound of a song or the glow of a sunset.  Or in the Holy Communion which will be offered to us today.  May we be ever watchful for his presence. In fact, He is among us here and now.

         Our passage from the first Letter of Peter traditionally has been thought to have been part of a homily for baptism. The letter describes our life as a journey. We are headed somewhere, much like the disciples leaving Jerusalem and heading for Emmaus. The letter encourages us to embrace the journey, seeing our whole life as a journey with both trials and joy in which we can experience Christ.

Jesus’ disciples discovered the joy of the Gospel while being evangelized. We can do the same.