The Road to Emmaus
Beginning, then, with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to him. By now they were near the village to which they were going, and he acted as if he were going farther. But they pressed him: “Stay with us. It is nearly evening, the day is practically over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he had seated himself with them to eat, he took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him; whereupon he vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 27-32)
The seriousness with which Catholics take the season of Lent never fails to impress me. Even when we fail along the way, Catholics by and large come together every year on Ash Wednesday to begin a season lasting 40 days where we seriously examine our own sinfulness and set out to start anew. We use the tools of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to guide us on the path of renewal.
One aspect of Lent that I feel we often miss, however, is that it is primarily a season of preparation for the time we are currently in, that being Easter. In the early Church Lent was a time for intense preparation for Baptism. In our modern Church this is still true for those who are preparing as adults through the RCIA. What many of us so often miss is that it is also meant to be used by those already baptized as a preparation to renew the promises that we so often break through our sinfulness. And so at Easter we are asked once again if we reject Satan, and all his works and empty promises. We are asked once again if we believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is no small thing to make these promises. The Church wisely gives us 40 days to prepare for this renewal.
The Church also has wisely provided us with 50 days of Easter where we are given the opportunity, just like the first disciples, to enter more deeply into the mysteries of our faith. The gospels tell us that Jesus spent 50 days teaching his disciples after his resurrection. He opened the Scriptures for them and showed them how he is the fulfillment of all that is written there. He celebrated the Eucharist with them and as he did, their eyes were opened and their hearts burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
My hope is that this Easter season we will be open to being taught by the risen Lord and grow deeper in our faith. What plans do you have for celebrating this holy season?
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