Homily Notes Third Sunday of Easter
3rd Sunday of Easter. “Burning Hearts Open Minds”
The story of the Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus is one of the most beautiful Resurrection Stories. People have speculated as to who these disciples were. We notice that one of the persons is named (Cleopas). The other individual goes unnamed. Maybe that mysterious disciple is supposed to be each of us. We are invited to walk with Jesus. We encounter Jesus in our life even though we do not recognize him in others.
One of the most interesting friendships that ever occurred in this world was the relationship between Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan. The relationship has been depicted in film as well as in a stage play called “The Miracle Worker.” Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in West Tuscumbia, Alabama. At the age of 18 months, she was rendered, deaf, blind and unable to speak by scarlet fever. She was a bright child, but she lived in a dark silent world. Her mother believed that she could be educated. She asked for help from the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston. Anne Sullivan, who was a teacher there, came to Alabama to begin to work with Helen Keller.
In the play about their relationship, the conflict between Helen and Anne is depicted as a battle of wills. Sometimes it is even a physical confrontation as Helen resists Anne’s attempts to teach her manners at the table, to learn to read, to behave in an appropriate manner. But then the break through comes. Helen had learned a few words as an infant. One word was water. As Anne and Helen battle over a spilled pitcher of water one day Anne runs water over her hand. She spells water in her hand with sign language. Suddenly, Hellen Keller understands. She says the word water. Her whole world is changes. She can communicate. Helen Keller became the first deaf and blind person to graduate from college in U.S. Later, she became a poet, author, and activist all with the help of Anne Sullivan.
When we read the Emmaus story, we see how the two disciples suddenly can understand who Jesus was. How did that come about? We get a simplified version of the story. We get the sense that there was a friendly argument between Jesus and the disciples. Cleopas and his companion conclude that Jesus has been defeated. All is lost they thought.
But the risen Jesus goes through the scriptures, concentrating on the Old Testament. He explains the truth, which was, that everything that happened in Jerusalem was supposed to happen as it did. The two disciples are resistant, but listen. Both change their minds. We have the wonderful line in this Gospel, “Did not our hearts burn within us as we conversed on the road.” If we have ever had a spirited conversation with someone else, where our minds are changed about how we see things, isn’t it a wonderful thing? The question for all of us is, do we listen?
Pope Francis went on the road this week. He went to Cairo to dialogue with Muslims, Christians, political leaders. A deadly bomb attack occurred just three weeks ago in a church that he visited. He could have stayed home. He could have just denounced other religious groups, but he went out of his way to remind everyone in his prophetic trip that any religious extremism from any faith that promotes violence is not of God.
We are reminded by the Emmaus story that we do not find the truths we need simply by withdrawing into ourselves. As is said today, many of us stay in an echo chamber listening to just those who agree with us. And that does not solve the problems of the world. No, the Emmaus story reminds us that significant truths, ideas that burn in our hearts, wisdom that can change our lives only come to us when we listen to ideas from thoughtful people. If we are willing to dialogue, to make the hard search for insight, we may then encounter the risen Jesus.
Please note: rough draft grammar may not be perfect.