26/04/2020
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
DO NOT BURY YOUR HEAD WHEN YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED
‘They stopped, looking downcast’
An unknown author once said, ‘when things are a disappointment, try not to be discouraged.’ When some believe that disappointments are part of life, others believe that every disappointment is a blessing. However, one thing is certain, every individual is a candidate of disappointment. Most of us have experienced disappointment at various stages of life in the areas like; health, marital, friendship etc. What is more, our actions and reactions to disappointments of life are different. When some believe that life goes on, others ‘get stopped and downcast.’ The latter is the case in the lives of the two disciples in the gospel reading this day. Their master in whom they had placed their trust had just been killed. A powerful miracle worker had just been killed in a powerless way. These, like other disciples of Jesus had been left devastated. Dreams faded, hope dashed, their joy was turned into sadness. All they could do between themselves was to reflect on their sorrow and disappointment as they journey back to their little village, Emmaus. We, too, like them, have sometimes in life, stopped and remained downcast. In a simple term, we have shifted our attention from the solutions to our problems and fixed our sight on the impossibilities.
However, the Risen Christ joined them as a fellow wayfarer on the journey. Despite his companionship, the Evangelist tells us that they were prevented from recognizing that it was the Risen Christ. Their eyes, minds, intellect, and hearts had been closed from knowing who this es**rt was. Their closeness of sight is a reminiscence of many of the contemporary Christians who find it difficult to believe and know that God is with them even in the midst of their hopelessness. Nevertheless, the Risen Christ explained to them the words of the scriptures and this made their hearts to burn within them. Through the power of this word, he unlocked the hardness of their hearts and opened their hearts. No wonder through the Divine wisdom they pleaded, ‘STAY WITH US.’ Indeed, He agreed to stay with them, but in a twinkle of an eye, after the breaking of the bread, He vanished from their sight, but remained with them hidden in the breaking of the bread which had opened their hearts to recognize him. Consequently, their joy was restored and since such experience could not be quietly kept at Emmaus, they retuned quickly to share it with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem. No wonder Peter was bold enough to raise his voice with audacity in the first reading. Indeed, no one who encounters the Risen Lord can be left devastated.
Thus, the readings of this day remind us that sometimes, our life experiences can leave us disappointed. These must not leave us stopped and downcast because the Risen Lord continues to stand by and walk with us on our way. He encourages and corrects us through the words of the scriptures. Above all, He lives in us through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist {He is Emmanuel, the God who is always with his people}. Through Him we have been redeemed from our former useless way of life.
May the Good Lord never leave us alone when we are faced with disappointments of life through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Fr. Charles Olayemi
