In today’s Gospel, we hear about the disciples on the Road to Emmaus three days after the crucifixion of Jesus and the same day that the women have found Jesus’ tomb empty. There is a lot packed into these verses and it seems that every time I hear this reading I just have more questions: What questions were Cleopas and his companion discussing? What were they debating? Did they have some kind of major disagreement? Were they doubting Jesus? Were they scared? Why didn’t Jesus reveal Himself from the two disciples right away rather than waiting to reveal Himself? Was it common to share so much intimate information with strangers making the same journey? Once Jesus revealed Himself in the breaking of bread, why did He vanish?
The verse that always catches my attention the most in this Gospel is, “And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” While even this one small part of the Gospel prompts many questions in my mind, the question that comes up most prominently is, How often does Jesus walk with me, but I don’t recognize Him?
What the disciples experience on the Road to Emmaus can teach us to keep our eyes out for Christ. Even when we feel alone, lost, confused, frustrated, angry–perhaps what Cleopas and his companion felt–Jesus is not far from us. He walks with us through those feelings but we have to remember to look for Him. There are times, however, when our eyes are turned away from Him and we do not recognize Him or we lose hope in Him. No matter how many times we fail to recognize Christ, He will never leave our side for He desires to walk with us.
May we not lose ourselves to despair but spend our lives rejoicing in the Resurrection of Christ!
En el Evangelio de hoy, escuchamos acerca de los discípulos en el Camino a Emaús tres días después de la crucifixión de Jesús y el mismo día en que las mujeres encontraron la tumba de Jesús vacía. Hay mucho contenido en estos versos y parece que cada vez que escucho esta lectura tengo más preguntas: ¿Qué preguntas estaban discutiendo Cleofás y su compañero? ¿Qué estaban debatiendo? ¿Tuvieron algún tipo de desacuerdo importante? ¿Estaban dudando de Jesús? ¿Estaban asustados? ¿Por qué Jesús no se reveló a sí mismo de inmediato en lugar de esperar para revelarse? ¿Era común compartir tanta información íntima con extranjeros que hacían el mismo viaje? Una vez que Jesús se reveló a sí mismo al partir el pan, ¿por qué desapareció?
El versículo que siempre me llama más la atención en este Evangelio es: “Mientras conversaban y discutían, Jesús se les acercó y comenzó a caminar con ellos; pero los ojos de los dos discípulos estaban velados y no lo reconocieron.” Si bien incluso esta pequeña parte del Evangelio genera muchas preguntas en mi mente, la pregunta que surge de manera más prominente es: ¿Con qué frecuencia camina Jesús conmigo, pero no lo reconozco?
Lo que los discípulos viven en el Camino a Emaús puede enseñarnos a mantener la mirada en Cristo. Incluso cuando nos sentimos solos, perdidos, confundidos, frustrados, enojados, tal vez lo que sintieron Cleofás y su compañero, Jesús no está lejos de nosotros. Camina con nosotros a través de esos sentimientos, pero tenemos que recordar buscarlo. Sin embargo, hay ocasiones en que nuestros ojos se apartan de Él y no lo reconocemos o perdemos la esperanza en Él. No importa cuántas veces dejemos de reconocer a Cristo, nunca se apartará de nuestro lado porque desea caminar con nosotros.
¡Que no nos perdamos en la desesperación sino que pasemos nuestras vidas regocijándonos en la Resurrección de Cristo!
Dakota lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Alfie & Theophilus. She is the Dean of Enrollment Management for Bishop Machebeuf High School where her husband also teaches. You can find Dakota at the zoo or a brewery with her family or with her nose in a book at home. For more of Dakota’s writing check out https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com/
Feature Image Credit: vytas_sdb, cathopic.com/photo/11648-judaean-desert
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