Sunday, April 6, 2008

Pope Benedict talks "Road to Emmaus" at today's Angelus

Thanks again to the Ratzinger Forum for the translation from todays Angelus. Until I work out this "digg" problem that is slowing down my blog I am going to be a tad "pic light" as to posts. However check out the before mentioned thread and also this page for pics of today's Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Gospel of this Sunday, the third in Eastertide - is the famous story about the so-called disciples of Emmaus (cfr Lk 24,13-35). It tells of two followers of Christ who, on the day after the Sabbath, that is, the third day after his death, left Jerusalem sad and depressed, and were headed toward a nearby village called Emmaus. Along the road, the Risen Jesus joined them but they did not recognize him.

Hearing why they were disconsolate, he explained to them, on the basis of Scriptures, that the Messiah had to suffer and die to reach his glory. Reaching Emmaus with them, he sat with them at table, blessed the bread and broke it - and at that point, they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight, leaving them full of wonder at the broken bread, a new sign of his presence. They then returned to Jerusalem and recounted what had happened to the other disciples.

The place called Emmaus has not been identified with certainty. There are various hypotheses, and this is not devoid of significance, because it allows us to think that Emmaus really represents every place. The road that leads to it is the way of every Christian, or of every man. On our individual roads, the Risen Christ is our travelling companion, to rekindle in our hearts the flame of faith and hope, and to share the bread of eternal life. In the conversation of the two disciples with the unrecognized traveller, we are struck by the expression that the evnagelist Luke puts into the mouth of one of them: "We were hoping..." (24,21).

This verb in the past tense says: "We believed, we followed, we hoped... but now, all is over. Even Jesus of Nazareth who showed himself to be a prophet in word and deed, failed, and we are disappointed." This drama of the disciples at Emmaus appears to mirror the situation of many Christians in our time. It seems that their hope in faith has failed.

Faith comes into crisis because of negative experiences which make us feel abandoned by the Lord. But this road to Emmaus on which we are walking can become the way of purification and maturation of our belief in God. Even today, we can enter into a conversation with Jesus, listening to his Word. Even today, he breaks the bread for us and gives himself to us as our Bread.

Thus the encounter with the Risen Christ, which is possible even today, gives us a more profound and authentic faith, tempered, one might say, through the flame of the Paschal event - a robust faith because it is nourished not by human ideas but by the Word of God and his real presence in the Eucharist.

This wonderful Gospel text already contains the structure of the Holy Mass: in the first part, listening to the Word through Sacred Scriptures. In the second, the eucharistic liturgy and the communion with Christ present in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Nourished by this double offering, the Church builds itself incessantly and renews itself every day in faith, hope and charity. Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Mary, let us pray so that every Christian and every community, reliving the experience of the disciples of Emmaus, may rediscover the grace of a transforming encounter with the risen Lord.

After the Regina Caeli, he had these special greetings:

With a Eucharistic celebration at St. Peter's Basilica, the first International Cognress on Divine Mercy ended this morning. I thank the organizers, particularly the Vicariate of Rome, and I address my most heartfelt greeting, which is also a wish, to the participants: Go forth and be witnesses to the mercy of God, the spring of hope for every man and for the whole world. May the risen Lord be always with you!

Today we also celebrate the Day of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, in memory of the Servant of God Armida Barelli, co-founder of the institution with Father Gemelli, and the great inspiration for girls of the Catholic Action movement in the first half of the 20th century. I hope that today's anniversary may contribute to renew the commitment of this important institution to promoting a Catholic popular culture. I greet the numerous members of the Focolari movement who are committed to being catechists in parishes, and who have gathered here from many parts of the world, and wish them every good for the service that they render in spreading the word of God and its reception.

In English, he said:

I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Regina Caeli prayer. On this Third Sunday of Easter, Saint Luke relates how the Risen Christ walks with his disciples, makes their hearts burn within them by his words, and reveals himself in the breaking of the bread. Let us pray that our Easter journey will teach us to open our hearts with joy to the living Christ present in his Church. Upon all of you I invoke God’s abundant blessings!

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