Dear Fellow Traveler,
The Lord is risen?? As I write this letter, the Christmas liturgical environment is still in place. I have been going from time to time to look at the Creche and every time I can’t help but look at the figure of the Christ Child. I was the one who processed with this at the Christmas Mass and I was the one who placed this figure into the creche. And we sang: Yea Lord we greet Thee born this happy morning along with O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. We were filled with hope!
But the Child grew up, didn’t he? He was destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel and was to become a sign that would be contradicted. Those who were destined to rise because of him grew in number, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, his first disciples and those disciples on the Emmaus Road. They found a reason to hope. This hope was shattered by the crucifixion and death of Christ the Lord.
The Emmaus disciples were disappointed. “But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel.” – Luke 24:21. But St. Paul would have us know in Romans 5:5 that HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! So yes, we will go through Lent, Holy Week and Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection will be proof to us that Hope does not disappoint.
The Lord is risen? YES!!! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. Is it any wonder that St. Augustine reminds us that we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song. Truly we are pilgrims of hope. Our Emmaus Road journey is not one of disappointment but one which causes our hearts to burn with hope, because our risen Lord travels with us.
Your fellow traveler in the Lord,
Very Reverend Anthony Aarons, Missionary of Mercy
RECTOR
