That we may recognize Him... (Easter Wednesday)

“People today want Christ without His Church. 

They want the King without His Kingdom."

Timothy Cardinal Dolan

Archbishop of New York

“The disciples on the road to Emmaus so wanted to see Jesus, the One they came to know and love, the One who died on the cross.  And, yet, they did not even recognize Him as He approached and walked along with them.  It was only as He explained the Scriptures (Liturgy of the Word) and broke the Bread (Liturgy of the Eucharist) that their eyes were opened to recognize the Risen Christ. 

My dear friends, the same two elements remain with us today – and they do so because of the Church!  Would we still have the Scriptures proclaimed to us today, or the Eucharist celebrated today, if it were not for the Church?  Just as Christ opened the eyes of his disciples, He comes to open our eyes to His living presence in our midst today.

So again, I say to you: Stay close to Christ.  Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith that you may recognize Him in the Sacred Scriptures and in the Eucharist. 

I read a quote offered recently by Fr. Tom Rosica, an American, Basilian priest who is the founder of the Salt and Light Catholic Television network in Canada.  The quote is from the French writer, Francois Mauriac.  I believe it is quite relevant for us ...‘If you are friends with Christ, many others will warm themselves at your fire… On the day you no longer burn with love, many will die of the cold.’”

Bishop Paul D Etienne

Diocese of Cheyenne

Painting above: Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus), Leon-Augustin Lhermitte (1892)