The Long Road

30 Apr

“I don’t know where my road is going, but I know that I walk better when I hold your hand.”  ~ Alfred de Musset

In today’s gospel, we hear about the story of two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  We would like to think that there was a virtuous reason for them being on that road; but, there was not.  The reason they were on the road was that they were distancing themselves from Jerusalem.  They were very much afraid because Jesus had been crucified and they did not want to be killed as well.

Fear clouded their judgment and also clouded their perception.  So much so that they did not even recognize Jesus when He met up with them on the road.  Even though they were with one another, they were very much alone.

Their entire lives for a few years centered around Jesus.  Their hopes and dreams all counted upon Jesus’ continued presence.  When He was taken from their midst, they lost sight of their future.  Their future no longer looked positive.  Their future looked very bleak.

“I don’t know where my road is going, but I know that I walk better when I hold your hand.”  Alfred de Musset said it best for those two disciples.  They did not know where their future was going; but, they knew that it was going smoothly when Jesus was in their midst. Without Him, there appeared to be no future.

Fear can so cloud our eyes and hearts that we become unaware of the Lord in our midst.  Fear causes us to focus on other things and grasp at other choices, poorer choices.  Fear can lead to panic and panic never leads to good.  People are said to be able to drown in shallow water because their fear and panic often causes them to grasp to things on the bottom and hold themselves under water instead of merely standing up.

The message of today’s Gospel is quite clear, though.  We are not to live in fear.  There is no reason to live in fear.  We have been given the opportunity for eternal life in the victory of Jesus’ resurrection.  When we come to that realization, we will need fear no longer.

Hold your hand out to the Lord.  Let Him grasp it tightly.  Once you do so, never let go of Him again.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray for those who so live in fear that they are incapable of considering that there is any hope for themselves.  If you know anyone who lives in fear, do all you can to support that person.