HOPE
HOPE is central to Eastertide. Today, we get another opportunity to revisit the Emmaus gospel. I’m glad to revisit a story that is so full of riches that it always offers us something new to reflect on.
At the beginning of their journey the disciples are despairing and hopeless, so drained they can barely drag themselves along the road to their home. We can almost feel the hopelessness from Luke’s description, we may also recognise it from our own experience.
It’s hard to see how they can move from this draining hopelessness to the energising hope we see at the end of the gospel. When a compelling stranger draws alongside them, asking what they are discussing their hopelessness overflows. Full of sadness they tell him:
“They stopped short, their faces downcast…Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free.”
Jesus gently unfolds the truth for them, challenging but never forcing, moving at a pace they can cope with. Some small spark of recognition is kindled in their hearts, and a tiny shoot of hope takes root.
It compels them to invite Jesus to stay with them when they reach home, and enables them to recognise him as he blesses the bread. As they recognise him their hope begins to blossom again:
“Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?”
In our dark times when hope feels impossible, the risen Christ also walks alongside us. If we allow him in, he can rekindle a hope that will set us free and give us the courage for these times.
Where do you need the risen Christ to help you rediscover hope this Eastertide?