April 26, 2020 – Remembrance

 In Pastor's Notes-Fr. Brendan

The scripture passage from the today’s gospel of Luke that tells of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus is one of my favorites of the Easter season. I see this as a model for discipleship for all of us in our own lives, maybe now more than ever. Let me explain.

The two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem dejected after the crucifixion of their Lord. There is powerful imagery at work here. Jerusalem is the holy city and Emmaus is considered to be the secular city of its day, much like Las Vegas is to us. Jesus meets them along the way. But he does not stop them and say, “Hey! It’s me! I’m raised from the dead. Go back to Jerusalem.” Instead he walks with them as they walk away from the Holy City and listens to their story. Only after they were done telling him everything, he then broke open the scriptures and connected everything they had said to scripture and to himself. Then he pretended to go on, but they begged him to stay for a meal. When he broke the bread, he vanished from their sights. Where did he go? We believe that in the “breaking of the bread,” the first name for the celebration of the Eucharist, they became him. They become what they received, the Body of Christ.

This is the model of ministry and discipleship for all of us. We are called to walk with people, even as they walk away from our Church, now more than ever. We are called to listen to their stories and when they are done telling us their whole stories, then we can relate all they have said to our experience of Jesus in our lives. Then if at all possible, we invite them to “break bread” with us.

And then invite them to come and celebrate the Eucharist with us. In this time of “shelter in place” we can do the walking and listening part of this really well. We can walk with people as they question their belief in God and the Church and maybe they will walk away from the Church. We can listen, without judgment, to their struggles with their lives. When we have listened well, then maybe we can share some personal experiences we have had of Jesus in our own lives right now. We do not have to have all the answers but a willing and listening ear is often all we need to be to others.

I find in these difficult times people are willing to share their struggles with us more easily. It is a great way to be a disciple; to be a listening friend. Reach out to a friend or family member via phone and just check in and listen well. It is amazing what we really hear when we assume the role as a “listener.”

Fr. Brendan McGuire

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