“Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). These were the words of the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus.  Luke tells us that the disciples witnessed the passion and death of their Master.  The man whom they thought of as the Messiah.  Their dreams and hopes were shattered after seeing what happened to Jesus.  No wonder they were disappointed, confused, and fearful.  Then, some of their friends told them about the resurrection which was unheard of.  Obviously, their minds were clouded to understand what Jesus told them.

It took Jesus to explain what was written about Him in all of the scriptures.  Even with that, it was a challenge for them to grasp what the Risen Lord was sharing.  Only when they stopped, paused, and reflected on what was shared that they understood and recognized it was the Risen Jesus speaking with them.  Filled with enthusiasm, they went back to Jerusalem to proclaim the good news.

This weekend, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God.  In 2019, Pope Francis established this observance on every Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The purpose is to reawaken an awareness of the importance of reflecting on the Sacred Scripture in our lives. “God’s word, listened to and celebrated, above all in the Eucharist, nourishes and inwardly strengthens Christians, enabling them to offer an authentic witness to the Gospel in daily life” (USCCB).

This is a practice that is very relevant during these times of world-wide turmoil. We are on a crossroad – our own Emmaus, searching for the right path, looking for the right answers. This Sunday’s celebration invites us to take a moment to go back to the sacred scripture and allow God to speak to us. Listen how God reminds us that He is with us.  Listen to Him speak saying “Take courage! Do not be afraid.”  Listen when He says: “I am the way the truth and life! I am the Bread of Life.”

This Sunday let us immerse ourselves in God’s Word so that we can begin to live our lives as if every day is Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Nourished by God’s Word, we can live every day nourishing the world and our actions will reflect those of Christ’s.  And don’t be surprised when we feel our “hearts burning within us.”