Lived Hope - Jesus Meets Us Along the Way

The Easter season is 50 days! And thank goodness, because it sometimes takes me that long to embrace the joy and hope of Easter. If I’m being honest, despite the turn of the liturgical calendar, my life these days feels like a never-ending meditation on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Life is messy and complicated. I find myself walking alongside friends who are facing the uncertainty of unemployment, watching others care for aging parents, and still others who are grieving the loss of someone close to them. My day-to-day work keeps stories of poverty and injustice at the forefront of my mind. I spend a lot of time wondering when life will return to “normal”.

Hope is more than cheerful optimism; hope begins in the mess. While the mystery of life sends us through the cross and into the tomb, it does not keep us there! The resurrection narratives are some of my favorite stories in all of scripture, because they have so much wisdom for us when life is turned upside down.

The Road to Emmaus:

Before continuing, I invite you to slowly and deliberately read the story of Jesus’ appearance on The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Pay attention to where your life is today, naming the real, as you enter into this story. Ask God for the grace to recognize Jesus’ presence as you walk along the way.

In reflecting on how Jesus makes his presence known to these two companions on the Road to Emmaus, I want to offer some practical suggestions for finding hope in the midst of chaos:

1. Step away for a little while. Life doesn’t always allow us to take a break, but there are so many times when I have found clarity and a fresh perspective by stepping away from a situation. Give yourself permission to grieve, to name the losses and dashed hopes, and to process everything that has happened. A long walk or a weekend away might be exactly what your mind and body need to reset and readjust. Spend time walking outside in nature. I often find that God’s presence reveals itself most immediately in creation. It is always during the Easter season when the leaves on the trees outside my window begin to break open. It is a gentle yet visible reminder that God makes all things new again.

2. Pay attention to strangers. When life becomes overwhelming, my strong independent self tends to double-down and mind my own business. On the contrary, Cleopas and his companion find grace in the presence of a stranger. God sends us messengers of mercy, often when we’re not looking for them. Reach out to a friend or colleague you haven’t seen in a while – just because. Resist the urge to reach for your phone when you’re out in public, and instead, pay attention to the people around you. Be the first to offer a smile or a hello. As I’ve said elsewhere, “God never tires of making grace known through acts of radical hospitality when strangers appear.”

3. Return to moments of consolation. There are many clues that this couple was a part of Jesus’ inner circle. They mention knowing that the women had seen the empty tomb. Surely, they would have been present at the Last Supper or witnessed the miracle at the Feeding of the Multitudes, because they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread! What are the moments of grace that you hold onto? When was Jesus most present to you? How have you experienced the still small voice of God speaking to you in the past? In the midst of chaos and confusion, we can draw grace from returning to those moments of consolation in our prayer.

4. Pay attention to what stirs in your heart. In praying with this scripture, I try to imagine what it was like for these two companions to leave Jerusalem. They don’t recognize Jesus because their eyes are clouded with fear, doubt, disbelief, and uncertainty. How do we open our hearts and notice Jesus standing right in front of us? Part of the wisdom behind St. Ignatius’ practice of The Examen is to begin with gratitude. Gratitude attunes our hearts for the tiniest movements of the Holy Spirit throughout our day that lead us out of darkness and to recognize that Jesus is always with us.

5. Tell the others! Finally, when we recognize the risen Christ in our midst, do not keep this good news to yourself! Our encounters with Jesus are meant to be shared, because they create a ripple effect of hope for the people around us. The early Christian community was founded on the testimony of the women to whom Jesus first appeared and the testimony of the disciples who encountered Jesus each in their own way. The church is alive today, because people continue to share their testimony with one another!

The Road to Emmaus ultimately leads back to Jerusalem. This profound encounter with Jesus gives them the courage to return to the place from which they came – walking back toward the fear, uncertainty, and grief – but with a new understanding that Jesus walks with them.

We walk in confidence that transformation and new life come from our hope in Christ and our belief in the resurrection. May we find true hope in this Easter season to face life’s challenges with the grace of God in our midst.

Going Deeper:

• Out of the suggestions in the article, what is one thing you might consider trying? What have you turned to in moments when hope was hard to find?

• What else stands out to you from the story of the Road to Emmaus?

• Take some time and explore the links Beth shared in her blog.

• Who can you share this article of hope with today?

Photo by: Dave Visser on Unsplash

Thank you!

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Beth Knobbe

Beth Knobbe is an author, speaker, and ministry professional based in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Catholic Theological Union and serves as a Senior Trainer with Catholic Relief Services, engaging Catholics in living their faith in solidarity with the poor around the world. Beth is an avid traveler and is passionate about her vocation to the single life. Beth is the author of Party of One: Living Single with Faith, Purpose, and Passion (2011) and Finding My Voice: A Young Woman’s Perspective (2009). Her personal blog can be found at www.bethknobbe.com.