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Pathway to
New Life

Who are your travelling companions these days? Is the path you are on well worn, or are you blazing a new trail? Has the Easter story altered your course, or perhap brought you back to a familiar trail? Where do you see encouraging signs of new life?
Just outside of Jerusalem, two dejected disciples of Jesus were travelling to the village of Emmaus. They had been caught up in the excitement and optimism surrounding Jesus and they had great hopes he would be the leader to redeem Israel. Instead, there they were three days after Jesus was killed, changing direction, leaving those hopes and dreams behind.

As the story goes, a stranger joined them along the way. They didn’t recognize him at first, but this travelling companion was about to change everything. They were about to learn that what they thought was a story ending, was in fact the beginning of something new. In the simple act of breaking bread together, they recognized Jesus there with them in a way that helped them understand the resurrection as the pathway to new life. (The Road toEmmaus story is found in Luke 24:13-35)

The Easter story is in fact, the story that changes everything. The gospel readings we hear in this season help us recognize the risen Christ among our own travel companions. These are transition stories that take us from God incarnate in one time and one place, to God incarnate in all times and all places. May the resurrection story be for all of us, a pathway to new
life personally, and within our faithful communities.

Peace and joy,
Nancy