WALKING WITH JESUS

 (The Emmaus Experience)

EASTER MEDITATION III

 “Now that very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem” (Lk 24:13).

Welcome to our third Easter meditation. Today we draw inspiration from the encounter of the two disciples with the Resurrected Jesus as they walked towards Emmaus. The appearance of Jesus was quite dramatic. The two disciples were walking down in near confusion, discussing among themselves the things that happened concerning Jesus and the report the women brought about His resurrection. The evidence of the empty tomb and the testimony of the women were wrapped in a cloud of doubt since they had no personal encounter with Jesus. The appearance of Jesus in their midst was to save them from doubt, to open their eyes, and give them the sight of faith in the Resurrection.

 This encounter has given us a deeper insight into the personality of the Risen Saviour. He is omnipresent. He is the unseen listener to our conversation. And He is ready to step into the confusion of our lives. He is our light in darkness, accompanying us along the way. Yes, Jesus will go the mile with you. But we have to give Him the chance to walk with us along the way. In this evening walk of Jesus and the two disciples, we see how we can walk with Him even in the busyness of our minds and the confusion of our lives. It begins with interest.

Imagine that the disciples were walking down and discussing among themselves other matters of interest apart from these things concerning Jesus of Nazareth! But that they were concerned, worried, reflecting and discussing all about Jesus, was enough invitation for Jesus to come in. This is the beginning of meditation and contemplation in the life of a Christian. Some usually ask me how they can meditate, which method to use or the environment they can adopt to enter into deep meditation. It all begins with interest! When our interest dwells on Christ Jesus, in any aspect of His life, we have opened up our inner self for Jesus to step in to enlighten and enliven our hearts (CCC 2705-2719). “Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, He explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about Himself” (Lk 24:27).

Think about the silence of the two disciples as Jesus opened their eyes to the Scriptures. Their hearts were on fire, but they were wrapped in the cloud of unknowing, such as Peter’s experience during the transfiguration. Cleopas and the other disciple were passive but active in attentiveness. This is always a contemplative disposition. Jesus steps in along the way and takes the lead. He led them to a new horizon of understanding. That is why Lectio Divina and other forms of meditation and contemplation approved by the Church give divine illumination to the heart. “Did not our hearts burn within us as He talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32). This warmth of heart is the sweetness and energy of silent prayer. The saints call it ‘divine consolation.’ 

 

Walking with Jesus often leads us to a decision junction. This is where we decide to invite the Lord in, to shelter Him and apply the illumination we received in our daily lives, or we part ways with Him. “When they reached the village to which they were going, He made as if to go on; but they pressed Him to stay with them” (Lk 24:28-29). Actually, His desire to stay with them was more, but by their invitation, their desire is now aligned with His. Their words of invitation had been used by monks as contemplative mantra over the centuries: “Mane nobiscum Domine, quoniam advesperascit” (Stay with us Lord, for evening falls). “Behold, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share a meal at that person’s side” (Rev 3:20). Prayer of silence disposes our hearts to hear that knock, and inspires us with the courage to open the doors of our hearts to Jesus.

Contemplative prayer has a Eucharistic dimension (CCC 2711). “Now while He was with them at table, He took the bread and said the blessing; then He broke it and handed it to them” (Lk 24:30). Again He who was invited takes the position of a host at the meal. They watch in silence as He handed back to them what they served Him in appreciation. They offered Him bread—fruit of their labour—He gave back to them Himself. He continued to draw them to greater heights of encounter. Like the Eucharistic Liturgy, they moved from breaking the word to the breaking of bread. In each case, their hearts burned; their eyes were opened. And they recognized Him! But no more with physical sight for He vanished immediately. It is not by sight but by faith.

Jesus is risen; He is alive! He wants to go the mile with us. No more shall we be faint-hearted as we journey along the way at this moment in our lives. There are so many other interests and considerations that tend to blind us, but we open the door for Jesus to come in by considering these things about Jesus of Nazareth.

 Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday April 25^th, 2020.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.

----St Alphonsus Liguori