In the story of the road to Emmaus, it was not until Jesus blessed, broke, and shared bread that the two recognized their traveling companion. Although they had walked with Him and listened to Him connect the prophecy of Scripture to His own life and ministry, they didn’t really know it was Jesus. Many of the post-Resurrection stories are filled with moments of people not recognizing the Risen Lord right away. It often takes a word or an action from Jesus Himself for people who know it’s really Jesus. So it goes for us sometimes. We may miss an experience of Jesus in our midst if we make assumptions about where we will find Him and what He will say and do.
As we go about life we can’t allow doubt, fear, or disappointment cloud our experience of the Risen Jesus who is right before our eyes, dwelling in our hearts, or fully alive in the ones who love us. In my worst moments, I always hear Jesus saying: “Peace. Do not be afraid. I am with you always.” When I am tired and frustrated, I hear Jesus saying: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Put simply, if we know the Jesus of the Gospels and all that He said and did, our anxiety can be transformed into a new awakening about His abiding presence and His desire to walk with us through it all.
Finally, how often are we surprised by Jesus who appears in that person who has come to our rescue? Whether it was a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or something heroic, we are graced by many who represent Christ blessing us.
The Risen Lord is in our midst and knows what we need. If we accept that truth, we will always know Him and recognize Him.
Alleluia! He is Risen
Welcome to the Saint Aloysius! Our parish was founded in 1896 to serve the Catholic families that were settling in the greater New Canaan area.