(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.
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday April 25th, 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
