THE ROAD TO EMMAUS...

A brief note on the Papal Celebration of Ash Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI marked the beginning of Lent with Ashe Wednesday at Santa Sabina Church in the outskirts of Rome. Santa Sabina is the first of the many station churches in Rome. In his homily, the Holy Father has encouraged Christians to do penance and to pray. Prayer offers solitude for everyone even when trials are deep. It nourishes hope and faith.

The Holy Father also for the first time as seen in public as pope wear the Roman Chasuble. I wish that our Liturgists would take note of this event. We know that Papal Liturgies are important because when seen in public they become the norm or pattern for other liturgical celebration anywhere. The Roman Chasuble was beautiful.

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, the forty day period prior to the day of Easter – the greatest holyday of all holydays. This forty-day waiting reminds us that we as mortals should reflect on the way Our Lord prepared himself for his ministry. Endued with human nature, he endured the three greatest temptations often faced by every human person. But unlike the ordinary human person, Our Lord overcame these temptations, as if to show us that we too can overcome if we trust in God and come to Him in all humility and obedience.

One of the greatest temptations for humans is the stomach. From these weakness comes avarice and greed. The unwillingness to share and the readiness to defraud others. The second temptation is the desire for power. How many times do we see this in among some of our politicians? But it is not only the politicians who are guilty, but we too in our little way; we also desire power at the expense of others and for our selfish benefits. Often our desires are motivated by less noble intentions. Indeed one of our modern idols is the desire for power. And the third is the sin of presumption. How often do we put Our Lord to the test? How many times did we presume the goodness of God over and against our unwillingness to shake off the desire for sin?

But reflecting on the spiritual significance of this forty-days waiting for Easter, I am sure that all road leads to Emmaus. This is one of my favorite episodes in the Bible. The two disciples not knowing the significance of events kept on debating their way to Emmaus. When the Lord joined them as they travel, the Lord expounded on them the scriptures, and as the Lord broke the Bread all of a sudden their eyes were opened and realized that it was the Lord. The road to Emmaus indeed illustrates the structure of our Liturgy. The Liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist are not exclusive celebrations apart from each other, but are integral parts of one celebration. The readings and the homily should lead us to the Eucharist. Partaking in that sacrifice should open our Hearts to the Real Presence of the Lord.

We should accuse ourselves many times of callousness as we partake in the Liturgy. Sometimes we do not realize that the Lord is present. Speaking to us through the readings and homily. Beckoning to us through the prayers of the Church and making Him present to us in reality through the Bread and Wine. But as we begin our Lenten journey this year, let us pray that our preparations will become fruitful. May it bring us closer to God and foster in us the spirit of Penance so that we may become worthy to receive His graces. Amen.