We meet Jesus in the Darkness of our Doubts
The Gospel from this past Sunday is the story of the disciples walking to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). This well-known story prompted Francis to share his description of a Christian. "A person is Christian because he or she has met Jesus and has allowed Jesus to meet them."
Pope Francis believes that each person longs for the encounter with God just as God "thirsts to meet us." We can be unconscious of this inner longing. In his homily, Francis explained that God sent Jesus so that He could draw near and satisfy our deep longing for encounter. Jesus is us at our side and invites us to talk about what bothers us. "The Lord likes to hear us speak so He can understand our personal situation." "He moves slowly; He is respectful of our readiness; He is patient; He doesn't rush ahead," Pope Francis said.
I agree with Francis - I have always wondered what Jesus said to those two disciples. Francis imagines that the conversation over the meal must have been a beautiful catechesis. "Jesus accompanies us along the entire journey, even when we are not aware of His presence... We meet Jesus in the darkness of our doubts, even in the horrible darkness of our sins. The Lord is always there to help us in our distress. He's always with us... The Lord accompanies us because He desires to meet us. This is the core of Christianity."
The Faculty Choir of Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart sings of this encounter of Christ on the road to Emmaus which culminates in the breaking of the bread. It is the faculty's tradition to offer this song as a prayer for the students on the first day the school resumes classes after Easter. What a blessing this gift is for all of us as we pray in Francis' words... "May Jesus grant to each one of us the grace of meeting Him every day, to knowing and to specifically recognizing that He walks with us in every moment. He is our companion along the pilgrim way."
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I agree with Francis - I have always wondered what Jesus said to those two disciples. Francis imagines that the conversation over the meal must have been a beautiful catechesis. "Jesus accompanies us along the entire journey, even when we are not aware of His presence... We meet Jesus in the darkness of our doubts, even in the horrible darkness of our sins. The Lord is always there to help us in our distress. He's always with us... The Lord accompanies us because He desires to meet us. This is the core of Christianity."
The Faculty Choir of Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart sings of this encounter of Christ on the road to Emmaus which culminates in the breaking of the bread. It is the faculty's tradition to offer this song as a prayer for the students on the first day the school resumes classes after Easter. What a blessing this gift is for all of us as we pray in Francis' words... "May Jesus grant to each one of us the grace of meeting Him every day, to knowing and to specifically recognizing that He walks with us in every moment. He is our companion along the pilgrim way."
Schools of the Sacred Heart share in the educational mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart as articulated in the Goals and Criteria. The structure supporting Sacred Heart education in Canada and the United States includes the Conference of Sacred Heart Education and the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. Together they provide services and programs to ensure vitality of mission for the member schools sponsored by the Society of the Sacred Heart.