Walking Towards or Running From?
On this Third Sunday of Easter, the Gospel keeps us again at that first Easter Sunday, this time placing us on the road to Emmaus. We know nothing more about Emmaus other than what St. Luke’s Gospel tells us: it was supposedly a town about seven miles outside of Jerusalem.
I am sure that most of us are familiar with story. Two disciples are walking to Emmaus. It is Sunday, two days after the Crucifixion. These disciples are heartbroken following Good Friday. Their world is further turned upside down because they have heard that Jesus has been raised from the dead. All of this they tell to the stranger who draws near to them on their journey and walks with them. The one who walks with them is no stranger, it is the Lord, but these two disciples are not able to recognize him.
There are different interpretations of this story. A more ancient one says that the disciples were walking into the sunset and their vision was obscured. While the setting sun may have obscured their sight, what prevented them from seeing Jesus was likely either their grief or disappoint that maybe Jesus wasn’t who they were hoping him to be. As these disciples pour their hearts out to Jesus, He in turn helps them to make sense of all that has happened, putting them back on the road to right spiritual vision which will be fully restored for them later that evening in the breaking of the bread.
Another interpretation of this story is that “Emmaus” did not actually exist and that these disciples were on the road to nowhere. Fleeing Jerusalem, confused by all that had happened and further confounded by news of the Resurrection, they attempt to just get away from everything and everyone, but Jesus draws near to them and sends them back to where they need to be.
The same can be true with us. Life has a way of overwhelming us at times, making us want to run or not allowing us to see things or people clearly for what/who they are; this can also happen in our relationship with the Lord. Just like with these disciples, Jesus is near to each and every one of us, whether we recognize Him or not. As disciples, we must accept that this life will not always make sense, but we are invited to place our frustrations, our brokenness, our grief, our fears, and our “whys” into the Lord’s hands, trusting in His goodness.
New Principal for CTK School
I am happy to let you know that Mrs. Fahey’s successor as principal of Christ the King School has been chosen. Beginning July 1st of this year, Mrs. Jill Seaton will be our next principal. Currently, Mrs. Seaton is CEO/Executive Director of the YMCA in Streator, IL as well as the IT Coordinator for St. Michael the Archangel Parish and School in Streator. Mrs. Seaton also has eleven years of teaching experience in Catholic schools.
Springfield native, Mrs. Seaton (nee Rosa) was a member of the Church of the Little Flower in Springfield and graduated from Little Flower School. She attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High School for two years before her family moved to Bloomington. She is a graduate of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Benedictine University.
Mrs. Seaton and her husband, Matt, have six children, and the family will be moving to Springfield early this summer. I was able to join Mrs. Seaton and her family on a tour of our school and I had a very enjoyable time with them. I am excited to welcome them to our parish/school family.
I want to again express my gratitude to Mrs. Pam Fahey for her outstanding leadership as our principal since 2014. I also want to thank the search committee for their help and dedication to this process over the past three months.
Wishing you and yours peace in the Risen Lord for the week ahead!
Father Chris House