The Stations of the Resurrection--Fourth Station--Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus

("The risen Christ appears to pilgrims on the road to Emmaus," one of a series of 26 mosaic panels illustrating the life of Christ in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna)

The Fourth Station--Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You opened the eyes of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Two of the disciples were walking towards the village of Emmaus, discussing the events of the past few days. They wanted to talk about something else, but no matter how hard they tried to change the conversation, the topic always rolled around to the last few days of Jesus. They were so wound up in the details of it, and their fear, that they did not even recognize that the man they had met on the road was Jesus himself. In fact, they thought for a little while that he might have been the only person around who hadn't heard of Jesus!

But as they conversed, their eyes became more open, and so did their heart. They began to hear what he was teaching them about the risen Christ, and their confusion turned to certainty. There was something about this man that they recognized, but they could not quite put their finger on why that was. All the same, they listened and began to understand.

Leader: As the disciples talked to Jesus on the roadside,
People: Their conversation led to understanding.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

O God, translator of all things,
So often we do not understand the fullness of your glory.
But as we begin to talk to you, we start to understand.
As we start to understand, it is only then that you can teach us.
Give us courage to start the conversations,
Even if we don't have the story straight.
Open our ears to hear your words,
and open our minds to understand them.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!