FOURTH STATION OF VIA LUCIS: The Risen Lord Appears on the Road to Emmaus

We adore You, O Christ

and we praise You! 

Because by the Wood of the Cross and

the Light of the Resurrection, 

You have redeemed the world!

Reading:  "...It happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.... And He said to them, 'Oh, how foolish you are!  How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!  Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into His glory?'  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them what referred to Him in all the scriptures" (Luke 24: 15, 25-27).

Reflection:  The Emmaus road is the story of the Christian life. These disciples were walking away from Jerusalem and the apostolic faith community in defeat and dejection.  They had lost hope.  We too, have moments of despair and desolation.  The Risen Lord Jesus accompanies us along the road, even when we are moving in the wrong direction.  Only the Lord can "break open" the Word in order to help us understand the stories of our lives, especially suffering, and read them in harmony with the pattern of the Scriptures.  Only the Lord can rekindle our energy and our resolve to devote ourselves to what is most important in life.

Silence

Prayer:  Lord God, as disciples on our pilgrimage, we implore Jesus Christ: stay with us, Lord. Open our hearts to true conversion and, as we have known the Lord in the breaking of the bread, so make us witnesses of a new humanity, renewed, reconciled and at peace in Your love.  Send us as heralds of the repentance and forgiveness You offer to all in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with You, forever and ever.  Amen.

All:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
That night the apostles met in fear;
Amidst them came the Lord most dear,
And said My peace be on all here.  Alleluia.

NEXT: FIFTH STATION OF VIA LUCIS: The Risen Lord is Recognized in the Breaking of the Bread