JESUS, THE GOOD FRIEND THAT ACCOMPANIES US IN OUR JOURNEY

In moments of grief, fear, loneliness, uncertainty good friend brings great support. A friend who can stand by you and accompany you in those moments is a worthy friend. Jesus is the worthy friend who accompanies us in our journey through the road of fear and anxiety. He is that worthy friend who accompanies us through the painful road of grief to lead us to joy. He is that worthy friend who accompanies us through the road of uncertainty to help us understand. He is the good friend who accompanies us through the road of hopelessness to lead us to hope. He is the good friend who accompanies us through the road of doubt and unbelief to lead us to faith. He accompanies us in lonely and sad moments to inspires us and set our hearts on fire. At the death of Jesus his disciples were stricken with grief, sadness and loss of hope. They were gripped with fear and anxiety of being persecuted and severely punished. The hope that Jesus would be the redeemer was lost by his death. Two of Jesus disciples left the city of Jerusalem in sadness and fear. They headed to Emmaus, a small village seven miles from Jerusalem. Emmaus was far enough for them to receive news about what is going on in Jerusalem. And it was far enough for them not be identified as the followers of Jesus. Jesus had told them before his death that he will rise from the dead but they totally doubted that it would happen. The women had told them that Jesus has risen from the dead but they did not believe in that story. The story did not dispel their sadness and disappointment because they doubted it. In their lonely journey to Emmaus, Jesus suddenly accompanied them. He shared the Scriptures with them. Encouraged and inspired them with powerful words. He set their hearts on fire with divine wisdom. But they did not recognize Jesus. They came to recognize Jesus at the breaking of bread. How was it that they did not recognize Jesus until the breaking of bread? They did not recognize Jesus because they were afraid to be identified with Jesus. When you don’t want to be identified with Jesus you will not recognize him. They did not recognize Jesus because they doubted the words of Jesus. When you doubt the Word of God you will not recognize Jesus even if he stands by your side. Doubt clouds people’s spiritual sight. They did not recognize Jesus because they were hanging on false hope. They were hoping that he will bring redemption by the way of war and destruction. They did not expect that redemption would come by the way of death and resurrection. When you hang on false hope you may be disappointed because God’s ways are not human ways. God fulfills our hope in his own way and in his own time. They did not recognize Jesus because they lost faith. Faith opens divine mystery to human beings. Faith opens divine realities to human beings. Lose of faith leads to lose of touch with the divine. Jesus shared his real body with them in the breaking of bread and they were able to recognize him. As they share in the body of Christ they became connected with Christ. When they finally recognized Jesus they realized that their hope and expectations were fulfilled by Jesus but in a different way. They went joyfully back to Jerusalem that very Sunday evening to share the good news. They were no longer afraid to share their faith and to be identified with Jesus because they were now connected with him through the Eucharist. They realized that Jesus had actually accompanied them in this journey, to give them hope, and to drive away their fear and doubt. You are not alone in your journey. Jesus is the invisible friend that accompanies you in every journey. He invites us to share in the Eucharistic table with him so that we will be deeply connected with him and feel his loving presence in our life.