The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is very special to me. It is very deep in meaning, I could spend hours contemplating its layers. “The Road of Faith” is by name and spirit connected to this story and in many ways comes out of this story and my walk to Emmaus. find the story of the Road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35. We will focus on this story over the next few weeks’ ‘Bible of the Road’ series.
“Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:25-29
Slap! Right across the face – “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe…” it’s time to wake from the slumber, enough moping around and whining. It’s time to wake up and hear the truth. It may not sound like it, but these words are full of love. This moment for me came at a retreat in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, when Jesus, through the priest said to me, “you don’t trust God.” These we’re painful words that stung as if He said, “how foolish and slow of heart you are.” The truth stung so much that I retracted and struck back, “no! I trust God.” Then, over the next hour or so, Jesus revealed the truth of all that had occurred and been revealed to me over the prior year. He told me how I had heard the Father tell me not to fear, that He would take care of His daughter, or the countless times Jesus said “do not fear, just trust Me.” I was so wrapped up in my fears, though I heard and recognized these words, i knew so strongly what I heard, but, I didn’t hold to His Words. I let the faith with which He was strengthening me slip through my hands.
But, with each word that day, the scales wrapped around my soul fell away. As that retreat and the next weeks passed by, I found myself begging Jesus to stay with me. I didn’t want ever to let Him out of arm’s reach ever again. And, yet, I still didn’t see all the truth of Who Jesus is to me.
Keep reaching out to the Truth by reading His word in the Bible. Stop taking about your woes and fears and start listening to His words of faith. Step out of hiding behind fear and invite Jesus to come closer and stay with you. No night will ever approach again.