The Emmaus Experience
We now follow in prayer the Emmaus disciples’ experience of the crucified and risen Lord as they moved from being heartbroken to finding their hearts on fire, from failing to recognize him walking with them to their eyes being opened to his presence, from turning away from Jerusalem to returning to it. To dispose ourselves to prayer, let us watch this Emmaus video.
We now follow in prayer the Emmaus disciples’ experience of the crucified and risen Lord as they moved from being heartbroken to finding their hearts on fire, from failing to recognize him walking with them to their eyes being opened to his presence, from turning away from Jerusalem to returning to it. To dispose ourselves to prayer, let us watch this Emmaus video.
Talking to the stranger, the Emmaus disciples said: We were hoping that he’d be the one to redeem Israel. One can just imagine how the disciples must have felt as they uttered these words. A deep sense of loss, sadness, pain, despair? Whatever hope they had in Jesus had been crushed in his death on the cross. No stories of angels could give them comfort. All that was left was to walk that lonely road to Emmaus.
Talking to the stranger, the Emmaus disciples said: We were hoping that he’d be the one to redeem Israel. One can just imagine how the disciples must have felt as they uttered these words. A deep sense of loss, sadness, pain, despair? Whatever hope they had in Jesus had been crushed in his death on the cross. No stories of angels could give them comfort. All that was left was to walk that lonely road to Emmaus.
In an interview, Kessler shares his experience in dealing with the recent death of his son. This is the context of Kessler’s new book: Finding Meaning: the Sixth Stage of Grief. With this book, Kessler shares that there’s more to Acceptance. And he calls it the stage of Finding Meaning.
In an interview, Kessler shares his experience in dealing with the recent death of his son. This is the context of Kessler’s new book: Finding Meaning: the Sixth Stage of Grief. With this book, Kessler shares that there’s more to Acceptance. And he calls it the stage of Finding Meaning.
He says we need to find meaning to get through the trauma. In the case of his son, he shares that when his son was just a kid his son told him that he wanted to help people. But because he died, he did not get the chance to do it. However, Kessler says that through his book his son is helping people. Kessler has found meaning in his grief.
He says we need to find meaning to get through the trauma. In the case of his son, he shares that when his son was just a kid his son told him that he wanted to help people. But because he died, he did not get the chance to do it. However, Kessler says that through his book his son is helping people. Kessler has found meaning in his grief.
If we may qualify Kessler a bit, we would call this stage, the stage of Finding God. In the experience of loss, we ask: Where is God in all this? Isn’t this the lonely road to nowhere the Emmaus disciples were on? Isn’t this the same road we find ourselves on as we grieve? On this road, we cry: Where are you, Lord? Why Lord? My God, my God why have you abandoned me?
If we may qualify Kessler a bit, we would call this stage, the stage of Finding God. In the experience of loss, we ask: Where is God in all this? Isn’t this the lonely road to nowhere the Emmaus disciples were on? Isn’t this the same road we find ourselves on as we grieve? On this road, we cry: Where are you, Lord? Why Lord? My God, my God why have you abandoned me?
If we listen closely to their story, we’ll hear anew the Easter proclamation - first made by the risen Lord to them and then by the Church to us - He is risen! Alleluia! The disciples experienced Jesus as walking with them. They experienced him as being there not just in the end, but from the very beginning. He died in obedience to his Father’s saving will. And the Father did not abandon him. Jesus did not abandon them but shared everything with them. Finding the crucified and risen Lord, they returned to Jerusalem eager to share with their companions the good news.
If we listen closely to their story, we’ll hear anew the Easter proclamation - first made by the risen Lord to them and then by the Church to us - He is risen! Alleluia! The disciples experienced Jesus as walking with them. They experienced him as being there not just in the end, but from the very beginning. He died in obedience to his Father’s saving will. And the Father did not abandon him. Jesus did not abandon them but shared everything with them. Finding the crucified and risen Lord, they returned to Jerusalem eager to share with their companions the good news.
Postscript: Jesus spent three days in the tomb before he was raised by the Father. It may take more than three days for us. It may take weeks or even months to be out of this quarantine, to get through our grief. But three days means in God’s own good time (kairos). Whatever stage or emotion we are feeling as we deal with our grief, however long the darkness we are experiencing, may we have the inner light and peace of the risen Lord. Like our Mother Mary, we wait patiently for our own kairos of Easter. May the Lord easter in us!
Postscript: Jesus spent three days in the tomb before he was raised by the Father. It may take more than three days for us. It may take weeks or even months to be out of this quarantine, to get through our grief. But three days means in God’s own good time (kairos). Whatever stage or emotion we are feeling as we deal with our grief, however long the darkness we are experiencing, may we have the inner light and peace of the risen Lord. Like our Mother Mary, we wait patiently for our own kairos of Easter. May the Lord easter in us!