Third Sunday of Easter. Emmaus Journey. Homily: Fr. Raymond

Comment: Cleophas and Unnamed disciple at Emmaus. Next-door at Latroun Abbey is the Chapel of the names of both of the disciples at Emmaus.

Chronicle and Blog

http://nunraw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/emmaus-easter-monday.html

 Incidentally, St. Cleophas’s companion is not left anonymous in the Liturgy of the Holy Land, - The name of St. Simeon appears on the stage at this point in the prayers. When it is said to be apocryphal I begin to see that the word is not entirely negative. Taken in the technical sense of an Apocryphal source it can be understood among other respected traditions.  

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Latroun Abbey, St Cleophas Chapel  

Emmaus Easter Monday

Homily: Fr. Raymond. 

Easter 2014 – Emmaus Journey    

“There should be something of an “Emmaus Journey” about our life for every Christian.  We’re all on a journey; a great journey; a journey that’s going to end, hopefully, in our arrival at our heavenly home.  We are all heading for our own particular Jerusalem.  But even this journey of the whole of our own lives is also a journey that’s really quite short.  In that sense it’s just like that original Emmaus journey.  The Gospel tells that that was a short one too. 

As we get older and further along that journey there’s quite a significance for us in its shortness.   But we must realise that there’s always that invisible Companion we have with us too: that very same Risen Lord.  “Behold, I am with you always even to the end of time” Jesus said, and that was no idle remark.  It was a solemn promise.  In fact, growth in the Christian life could be defined as a growth in the awareness of that daily, hidden companionship we have with our Risen Lord.

In practical terms, how can we set about growing in this awareness?  What can we do to foster it?  What can we do to nourish it?  What can we do to build it into our daily lives?   Or to put it into the terms of the Gospel scene – How can we get into step with this hidden companion of ours?  How can we strike up a conversation with him?  The first thing to notice is that the disciples didn’t approach the Lord, they weren’t looking for him.  It was he who approached them.  Yet, in a sense, they did approach him, because their minds were full of him; their hearts were, aching for him, looking everywhere for him.  And that’s precisely how we approach him too – by our thinking about him; by our desiring of him. Then we can be sure that he in his turn will most certainly approach us too. Then he will accompany us too all along our own particular ways.

We approach the Lord every time we read or hear the Gospels.   We approach the Lord every time we join in charitable and kind conversation with his brothers and sisters.  We approach the Lord every time we share in his sufferings.  We approach the Lord every time we rejoice in his triumphs.  We approach the Lord every time we look forward in hope to his promises.  But especially, we approach the Lord every time we turn to him in prayer.