Our "Emmaus" Journeys

The journey to Emmaus was preceded by a series of events that were intensely emotional:

• Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
• Jesus proclaimed as king on that triumphal entry
• Jesus perceived as the one who would free the Jews from Roman occupation and return their nation to prominence

Hopes were high, to say the least.  Jesus' disciples were in a state of elation, confidence. They spent three years being taught by the Master, witnessing Jesus healing all kinds of diseases, casting out demons, raising the death to life, confronting hypocrisy, being inclusive of everyone, especially women and children.  Life could not have been better for them.  Then, a week later, all hopes were dashed, shattered, crushed.  Jesus is handed over to the enemy and was put to death.

Think of times in your life when everything was going right for you.  You found your life's partner. You fall in love, dream together of raising a family and being each other's soul mate into old age and until death.  Then suddenly the bubble burst.  Your partner "falls out of love". A bitter divorce follows.  Or your spouse succumbs to a serious addiction, loses a lucrative job and you "fall" into dire poverty, alone, a single parent. Or a sudden illness takes your partner from you.  In religious life and/or priesthood the dream of perfection is pricked, the "balloon" deflates; or the same happens in your personal, professional life. All seems lost. To whom do you go for help? Who accompanies you on your "Emmaus" journey as you attempt to walk away from the painful memories? Who helps you make sense of it all? Who redirects your thinking and shows you the Scriptures and their meaning in your life, restoring your "vision", renewing your hopes, putting you back on a path that strengthens your resolve to start anew with the "Stranger," Christ at your side all of the way?