REMEMBER JESUS MORE By Fr. Vally de Souza SJ

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER A - 8 May 2011

REMEMBER JESUS MORE - Luke 24, 13-35

- José Antonio Pagola



Rev. Fr. Vally de Souza SJ (Vyara)

The story of the disciples of Emmaus describes the experience of two followers of Jesus as they journeyed from Jerusalem to the small village of Emmaus, some eight kilometers away from the capital. The evangelist does it so skillfully that he helps us even today to revive our faith in the Risen Christ.

Two disciples of Jesus are leaving Jerusalem, after having abandoned the group of followers that had formed around him. After his death the group is breaking up. Without him, it makes no sense to remain united. The dream has vanished. With the death of Jesus, the hope that Jesus had raised in their hearts has died. Isn’t something of this happening in our communities? Aren’t we letting faith in Jesus die?

Those disciples, however, keep talking about Jesus. They cannot forget him. They recall what had happened. They try to make some sense of what has happened to them while they were with him. “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.” It’s the first gesture of the Risen One. The disciples are not able to recognize him, but Jesus is already there walking with them. Isn’t Jesus walking unnoticed with so many believers who have left the Church but continue to remember him?

The intention of the story teller is clear: Jesus comes to them when the disciples remember him and speak of him. He makes himself present wherever his Gospel is talked about, where there is interest in his message, where people talk about his project and the way he lived. Isn’t Jesus absent from among us because we speak little about him?

Jesus is interested in speaking with them: “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” He does not impose himself upon them by revealing his identity. He asks them to continue speaking about their experience. Conversing with him, they will discover their blindness.

Their eyes will be opened when, guided by his word, they express the thoughts and feelings they have within them. That’s what happens when in the Church we speak about Jesus and converse more with him. Our faith revives. The disciples speak to him of their hopes and disappointments; Jesus helps them to deepen their knowledge of the crucified Messiah. The hearts of the disciples begin to burn; they feel the need to have that “stranger” stay with them. While celebrating the Eucharistic meal, their eyes are opened and they recognize him: Jesus is with them!

We Christians need to remember Jesus more: to quote his words, to speak about the way he lived, to understand more deeply his project.We have to open the eyes of our faith more, and find him full of life in our Eucharistic celebrations. No one should be more present to us. Jesus walks by our side.

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Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Transation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J.

vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.