"The Stranger in Our Midst"

Today's Mass Readings
Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus is a very telling story. From the mood of the disciples we can conclude that there is much despair. Well, that is exactly what life is without God. And then, along comes a “Stranger.” The disciples do not recognize him, yet their hearts burn. They do not know the stranger and yet invite him to eat with them. He is the guest yet he is invited to break the bread. And suddenly, there is a deep, deep realization that God is “in their midst” more really than ever before.

What is it that defies reason and yet leads to conviction? The answer is faith.
How do we know God is in our midst? The gospel reading gives us two answers. God comes as a stranger in our midst. God also comes to us in the “Breaking of Bread.” But it is faith that leads to that conviction.

The more secular the world has become, the more it has distanced itself from God. In the name of reason, modernity, development, and progress, the world has alienated itself from God. The despair of violence, war, poverty, hunger, starvation, broken relationships, broken families, greed and betrayal is announced each day to us in the news. All the prescribed solution to these problems only compounded them. But then Godlessness will do that to us.

As Catholics we have a very special role – to be the presence of God in this Godless world. The Church does this in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is in the “Breaking of the Bread” that we recognize the Lord. It is in the Eucharist that we are lifted from our despair and embrace hope. It is in the Eucharist that Jesus and you and I become one. However, like Peter and John in today’s first reading, we can also find God in the strangers in our midst. When we invite strangers into our midst, we “become” the Eucharist. Yes, Christ is undoubtedly present in the world. He “is” You and Me. Only faith can lead us there.