“Allowing the Risen Jesus to rekindle our hearts, and set us running – with joy – to proclaim His saving love!

(Based on Acts 3:1-10 and Lk 24:13-35 – Wednesday in the Octave of Easter)

In the vibrant summer of 2013, millions of young hearts from around the globe…
… gathered on the shores of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for World Youth Day.

The energy was electric.
The songs, the flags, the languages – all so different – yet all beating to the same rhythm of hope.

And in the centre of it all stood a newly elected shepherd of the Church
…. Pope Francis
… standing before the crowd of over three million, lifted his voice and thundered across generations:
Go, do not be afraid, and serve!”

Those words weren’t just a theme.

They were a summons.
A wake-up call.
A resurrection cry to a sleeping world.

One of the many hearts pierced that day was a young Italian actress named Beatrice Fazi.

She had left the Church years earlier, disillusioned, disappointed, and drifting.

She came to Rio curious, but carrying the weight of years spent walking away from God.

But that night… something happened.

In the Vigil under the stars, as Pope Francis spoke of Christ walking beside the young…
… calling them to live for others
… she wept.

And later, in an interview with Vatican News, she said:
“I came here lost, just walking through life.
But I leave here running – because I met Him again.”

(Source: Vatican News, World Youth Day 2013 Coverage)

Beatrice came to Rio ‘like the disciples to Emmaus’…
… wounded, wandering, weary.

But in the presence of the Risen Lord – through His Word, His Church, and His Vicar
… her feet caught fire.

And that, dear brothers and sisters, is the invitation before us today: Will we just keep walking through life… tired, disappointed, half-believing?

Or can we allow the Risen Jesus to rekindle our hearts, and set us running – with joy – to proclaim His saving love?

The Gospel of the Day presents two disciples who “walk away from home” in disinterest and dejection
… but later “who run towards home” with enthusiasm and passion!

The walk away…
… was a dull tale of being filled with disappointment and confusion
The walk towards…
… is an exciting story of being filled with immense joy and happiness

The encounter of Jesus to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus is one of the classic Resurrection encounters.

This incident appears only in the Gospel of St Luke.

The unnamed disciples have been shaken up very badly over the incidents over the last week in Jerusalem.

Like the Apostles, these disciples also would have been severely affected

Their Master, Jesus, in whom they had trusted, and they had followed, underwent a shameful death – that of a criminal.

It was humiliating…
… to be called as followers of a Criminal
It was abasing…
… to be called to as followers of a Blasphemer

Added to that, the accounts of some women who had seen the Empty Tomb of the Lord, added to greater confusion.

Life seemed to be dealing harshly with them

Gloom had descended into their hearts
Grim had taken over their lives.

And so they “walked” disappointed and dejected
… away from “home” – Jerusalem – to a village named Emmaus.

But this “walk” in sadness and gloom, was soon to become a life-transforming event!

Moments of hardships often become moments to encounter the deep love of the Lord!

Situations of dejections often become situations to experience the immense mercy of God!

Jesus met them, explained the Scriptures to them and finally in the house, broke the bread
… “and their eyes were opened!” (Lk 24:30-31)

Their gloom was taken away
Their mourning was converted
Their sadness was chased away

This experience “had to be shared”
… This experience “had to be recounted”

And so these disciples, who had “encountered” the Lord
… now “ran!”

The walk away…
… was a dull tale of being filled with disappointment and confusion

The walk towards…
… is an exciting story of being filled with immense joy and happiness

How is our life?

Are we merely “walking” through activities and works in life, in dissipation
… or are we “running” through our duties and responsibilities filled with joy and hope?

Are we merely “walking” passively in our spiritual life and our Christian witnessing…
… or are we “running” boldly and enthusiastically, overflowing with happiness and love?

The Lord walks with us…
… on our every journey, in our every activity

But seldom do we see Him
… seldom do we “feel” His presence!

Those disciples realised this “feeling” of the Lord being with them at the Breaking of the Bread…

There lies the key
… there lies the open secret

The realization of the Presence of the Lord is guaranteed and facilitated by a meaningful participation in the Lord’s Body and Blood – at the Holy Eucharist!

The Lord in the Holy Eucharist, calls and invites us – to experience Him, to encounter Him…
… to be transformed by Him!

May the Lord help us to overcome our “lethargic and uninterested walking” in spiritual life…
… and allow the Risen Jesus to rekindle our hearts, and set us running – with joy – to proclaim His saving love!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

The family must be helped and defended by appropriate social measures.
Where families cannot fulfill their responsibilities…

… other social bodies have the duty of helping them and of supporting the institution of the family. (CCC # 2209)