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Every year, on this fourth day of the Easter Octave, the gospel reading is the well-known account of Jesus’ encounter with the two hikers on the road to Emmaus.

Note that every gospel passage after the resurrection of Jesus is not just about Jesus.

I suppose the story could have been told from an objective point of view, without the involvement and confusions of disciples and followers, a simple and indifferent news account: “Following Sunday’s story of the missing body of Jesus of Nazareth it was reported from Emmaus this morning that…”

But note that every gospel account of Jesus’ encounters with his friends and family, his followers and disciples, tells of their struggle to come to terms with the fact that Jesus who was dead, very dead, crucified dead, is now alive, with them, present and active.

And in every account, we see women and men, young and old, religious and secular, poor and rich, bad and good, wrestling with a new fact which transcends every truth they had ever believed.

God in Jesus Christ is inviting us TODAY to allow ourselves to be carried beyond the demands and routines, the joys, the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of twenty-first century existence into the abundance of life for which we have been created.

And the place where this happens is here and now, wherever and however we are, wounded and hopeful, helpless and ready, women and men, young and old, religious and secular, poor and rich, bad and good.

Before the resurrection Jesus was limited by the natural confines human time and space. He could only be in one speaking with one person at any one time.

Now his friends discover he is present in a new and transcendent way, walking and talking, eating and drinking, passing through human boundaries and barriers to embrace, to heal, to forgive, offering the depth of friendship with the divine which satisfies our deepest longing.

Since Monday morning’s launch of my Fifth Gospel project I have been encouraged and moved by the accounts of personal experience of Jesus which I have already received. Thank you. This collection which I will publish later in the year could be called our Twenty-First century Emmaus experiences. Thank you for your eager generous responses and for forwarding my invitation to others. Many of those we most need to hear from would never think their experience could be helpful to others. They may need your encouragement.

Perhaps it helps to imagine that you and a couple of others are chatting at your own Emmaus Table about what has happened in your life and how these ordinary human moments were for you an experience of the reality of Jesus risen, present, active in your life.

Encourage each other to write the story, or get them to dictate to you, and send to me at john@fff.org.nz before the end of this month.

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Take an initiative and initiate a cafe table gathering, or join these gatherings:

Thursday 11 April 2024 10.00am  Stumble Inn, 200 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth. Joan

Email me to add another: john@fff.org.nz