How do we find our way home?

 How do we find our way home? This only makes sense when we are away from home, when we start to notice the absence of what is familiar and everyday. People leaving on a journey or taking a step into a new environment often feel this sense of separation. They are open to new realities, but eager not to lose contact with the people they love. Often, this deep longing can feel like a sickness, weighing heavily on a person as they feel disoriented by a new reality. They often need to talk to another person on the journey to find what makes sense. This can even be seen in people posting on social media or by making telephone calls, if only to have a familiar presence who helps us make sense of what we are experiencing.

When we encounter the two disciples on the walk back to Emmaus, we encounter the same reality. They are all too aware of all the events leading up to Jesus’ life and death, but struggle to make sense of the empty tomb. This is not just idle chatter; it is a faith conversation about how their hearts have been broken and their hopes dashed. The supreme irony in this story is that they are unaware that Jesus walks with them and seeks to make sense of who he is, which is more important than the events that have unfolded. Jesus listens to what is most disturbing them and then guides them to understand the scriptures that speak about him. Then, when they reach their destination, he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and shares it. These show how this Eucharistic action is mirrored in our celebration whenever we gather for Mass.

What is central to this Eucharistic moment is that Jesus shares himself both in Word and Sacrament. Saint Peter points to this when he notes that the tomb cannot contain him and that he has freed us from the corruption of sin and death. This allows us to understand the fulfilment of the promise that he would sit at God’s right hand and that we would experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

We start to discover that our true home is in heaven and that God walks with us on the journey. This is not just an abandonment of our day-to-day encounters, but a call to accompany each other, especially when we walk together. This shows that true happiness does not come from our own efforts but from our willingness to meet the person of Christ. We recognise that we cannot meet God on our own or manufacture grace. We are called to a point where, especially when we are besieged by the events of life, God will meet us there. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is present in their midst.

As we continue our journey together, Jesus makes himself known to us. These may be fleeting moments, but they help us to glimpse the truth. This is the reason we gather each week to celebrate the Eucharist. To listen to the Word broken open for us and the bread taken, blessed, broken, and shared as the precious Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus does not abandon us but walks with us, often unseen, as we share our stories of faith. He enkindles the fire within us so that we may notice his footsteps alongside our own.