Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Once in a quiet convent in France, a young woman named Thérèse lived her “little way” with a heart overflowing with hope. St. Thérèse of Lisieux believed that holiness was not found in grand deeds, but in simple acts of love and kindness. Even as a child, Thérèse prayed for her “spiritual eyes” to be opened—to see Jesus in everyone, especially those who challenged her patience or seemed difficult to love.

When a fellow sister would irritate her, Thérèse would smile all the more, telling Jesus in her heart, “I see You hidden in her.” Her days were filled with ordinary tasks, yet every moment was a chance to encounter Christ. Through the eyes of love, she discovered Jesus in the faces around her, and her whole life became a song of joy. Thérèse’s hope never faded, even in suffering, because she recognized Jesus walking with her in every circumstance, in every person she met.

Recognizing Jesus on the Road: From Sorrow to Burning Joy in the Light of the Resurrection

Today’s Gospel takes us on another road—a dusty path to Emmaus—where two disciples walk with heavy hearts. They have witnessed the death of their hope. Jesus, whom they loved, is gone. As they journey, a stranger joins them. They do not recognize him. The Gospel tells us “their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” Yet this stranger listens to their sorrow, invites them to retell the story of their dashed dreams, and walks with them patiently.