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| Prayer Before and Prayer After |
JESUS APPEARS TO THE TWO DISCIPLES GOING TO EMMAUS
“And behold, two of them went the same day to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus Himself also drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him” (Luke 24, 13–16).
First Prelude: Picture the two disciples, troubled and sad, on their way to Emmaus. Behold, Jesus, the risen Saviour, Who joins them though they do not recognize Him.
Second Prelude: O my beloved Saviour, let me be ever mindful that Thou wilt be my companion on this earthly pilgrimage and that Thy merciful Heart is always open to humble confidence.
FIRST POINT
THE TWO DISCIPLES LEAVE JERUSALEM
According to the words of the gospel, the two disciples had been brought to waver in the faith by the terrible incidents of the preceding days. Their souls were flooded with grief. Then, too, they were troubled by doubt in the long desired redemption, because He Who should accomplish it had died the shameful death of the cross. In their grief, they even discredited the pious women and the Apostles, who testified to the resurrection of the Lord. In their estimation, Jesus was no longer the promised Messiah, but only a prophet. Their confidence, too, was shaken, as we infer from their words: “But we hoped that it was He that should redeem Israel; and now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done” (Luke 24, 21). Oh, how weak and insufficient to resist temptation is virtue, if not firmly rooted, if not sought for in its proper source!
The disciples had forsaken the company of the Blessed Virgin and the Apostles, to seek comfort in a stroll to Emmaus. It was their fortune that in thought, at least, they were occupied with their Divine Master. In answer to the question: “What are these discourses that you hold one with another?” they could say that they were discoursing on His passion and death. Love, at least, had not wholly died out in their hearts, and could therefore more quickly rekindle in conversation with the Saviour. Are we not often guilty of similar faults? Do not we easily become discouraged and disheartened when God hesitates to grant our petitions, or to realize our hopes and expectations? It seems impossible for us to abide the Lord’s own good time. Forgetting that true consolation is to be found in God alone, and not in creatures, we become dismayed and drift away from God, the source of all graces, Who is ever ready to console, to protect, to encourage and strengthen us on our earthly pilgrimage. Let us, therefore, entrust ourselves to the Saviour gloriously risen, Who will replenish our hearts with peace and heavenly bliss.
SECOND POINT
THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR HIS DISCIPLES
How touching is the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus here manifested! While the two disciples, dejected and sad, were discussing intently the recent occurrences, they were suddenly joined by the Saviour, Who addressed them lovingly. He asked them the subject of their conversation, to afford them an opportunity of pouring out their hearts! Oh, that in all our cares and anxieties we would, with child-like simplicity, unburden our heart to our beloved Saviour! What peace should then be ours! Though He knows our wants and needs, and divines our most secret thoughts, Jesus takes pleasure in the humble avowal of our faults and weaknesses, seeing as He does in it a mark of our confidence and trust. Like a good father, who never tires of listening to His dear children, Jesus feels Himself constrained to help, to encourage, and constantly to bestow upon us new proofs of His affection. How loving and affable is not our Blessed Lord in imparting grace to the two disciples and revealing to them the goodness of His Heart! He joins them as a casual traveler, speaks with them as though one of their kind, and unmindful of their being only two, entertains Himself at length with them. Does not such love reveal His concern for the salvation of each individual soul?
Admire the goodness of our Divine Lord in utilizing every opportunity to render souls receptive for His grace. How often, alas, do we misconstrue the designs of Jesus! Wholly unmindful of the nearness of our amiable Consoler, Who withholds His marks of special favor to confirm our faith and our fidelity, we frequently yield to melancholy and despondency. Oh, let us surrender ourselves unreservedly to our Divine Saviour! Let us consider tribulations as welcome means to come closer to Him! What consolation, encouragement and fortitude should then be our support and stay on the pilgrimage of this mortal life! With what assurance should we then look forward to the reward of eternal glory, which Christ has merited for us by His bitter passion and death!
Affections: O my Saviour, how weak and inconstant is my heart! I am so easily discouraged at sight of difficulties I meet in the discharge of my duties. Is it not due to a lack of faith in Thy divine promises, a lack of confidence in Thy supreme power, Thy unbounded love and mercy? Strengthen me, O Jesus, I pray Thee by Thy glorious resurrection. Let me ever be mindful of Thy holy presence, that I may despise the vain consolation of creatures, and in all reverses have recourse to Thee, my Comforter, my most loving Father. Thus I may become worthy to find in Thee my salvation, my happiness, my peace on this pilgrimage through life, and be vouchsafed the happiness of possessing Thee in never-ending bliss.
Resolution: I will remain in the presence of my risen Saviour by silence and recollection, and in all difficulties have recourse to Him.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Jesus Himself also drawing near, went with them.”
Prayer: Soul of Christ . . .
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