Time for a U-Turn - Homily 3rd Sunday of Easter

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I would like to tell you about a U-turn.  (thanks Jenaye Hill for the inspiration).

Two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem on the Sunday of the resurrection talking about everything that was going on.

That discussion was probably intense. The gospel says they were conversing and debating as they traveled.

Jesus comes to walk with them and asks what they are talking about. With that question, the disciples stopped and became depressed.

Cleopas turned and looked at Jesus. Not recognizing him, he said “Man where have you been not to know the things that have happened in the past couple of days?”

Jesus answered, “What sort of things?”

The two disciples were traveling down the road to their home in Emmaus from Jerusalem. It was probably a road they had taken many times. It was a familiar road. It was a well-traveled road.

Yet, they were lost. They were sojourning in misery, abiding in disappointment. They were returning home to the place they were at before they knew Jesus.

They felt separated from Christ Jesus. God had left them.

That may have been some of what they debated. They missed Jesus. They were scared; so, they had left Jerusalem to return home.

Maybe they debated on who was the advocate (the Paraclete) Jesus promised. Would He open the doors to Jesus’ kingdom?

Instead, Jesus showed up to open their hearts and eyes. Jesus didn’t let it happen right away. He decided they needed to make a U-turn. 

He wanted them to learn something. The disciples had been told before by Jesus of all the events that were to happen; but, they had not believed. So as they walked along, He interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

He wanted them to learn to trust God's promises.

At the end of the day, the two invited Jesus to eat with them. When Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them; their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

They made an Emmaus road U-Turn (thanks Jenaye Hill for the inspiration).

Their eyes were opened before the apostles. Not being disrespectful to any priest but Jesus opened their eyes before he open they eyes of the priesthood He had just established.

Since they didn’t have cellphones, Facebook, Instagram, or twitter, they ran back to tell the apostles.

A lovely lady I know does not use social media so almost every week I get a message asking “is mass open this week?”

She wants to come to mass and feels lost without it; but, she is not lost. She knows where she wants to be and waits for the Bishop to open the doors.

Watching this, you’re probably not lost; but, many might have heads down feeling dejected or disappointed because of everything going on. Some may feel Jesus has left us abandoned.  

This pandemic is making a time of abiding quiet and isolation. This is a time of sojourning. It is a time many might fail to trust in God’s promises. For many, belief has become weak.

It is time for an Emmaus road U-turn.

At this time (more than any other time many have experienced) we must dwell in hope. It is a time to open hearts and eyes to realize we have been ransomed be the precious blood of Christ.

This pandemic is like the Emmaus road; so, walk with Jesus. He will open our eyes because faith and hope are in God.  Thank God for U-turns.

Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.