Our society seems fascinated by the concept of “the journey”. “Journey” is a term we hear a lot of in popular culture where people talk about “their journey” when talking about life’s events. A journey is about going from one place to another, from the Old French, journée, it is a day's length, a day's work or travel. The secondary school I went to was a place that placed an emphasis on outdoor education expeditions, hikes, camps and the like. For example everybody in the 3^rd form (year 9 I think), in small teams over a weekend, had to do what was called the 30 miler which meant what it said on the tin. I know from personal experience how far a person can walk in a day carrying a 30lb backpack! Just one of a number of journey's in my life.

In Sunday's gospel we hear of another journey, undertaken by two disciples, two people not on Jesus’ “top team” of apostles, people we have never heard of before in any of the gospels. Later only one of the two is named, Cleopas. Some traditions say that the second person is perhaps Luke himself, the writer of the gospel, we don’t know.

The setting for this journey is the day of the events of the resurrection itself. The two describe to the stranger how the women had gone to the tomb in the early morning – that morning – and found it empty, they had a vision of angels, others went too, saw the tomb and nothing else. They don’t know what to make of it all. Have you thought about why they are going to Emmaus in the first place? Perhaps one of them has a home there, perhaps they are so confused and frightened that they too could be next for the cross and they are getting out of town.

What is clear is that they did not see Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the saviour, but as a great prophet. Today, not only do they not recognise Jesus in the person of the stranger (though they were probably relieved to discover that their companion was also a follower of Jesus), but for that matter they did not comprehend who Jesus was prior to his crucifixion.

It is by paying attention to what the stranger says they find that he slowly opens their eyes, and the eyes of their minds, hearts and souls.

In Jesus’ time the breaking of the bread would have been done by the host not the guest but unusually the stranger - Jesus - is the one who breaks the bread. Put yourself there, perhaps in that very moment the hands that you see are the pierced wounded hands of the master. In that split second, like Thomas in last week’s gospel, perhaps you say in your heart, or maybe aloud, “My Lord and my God”.

Our own lives are journeys, God willing of many days length. We have all come from somewhere in our experience of life and we are all heading to somewhere. This side of eternity who knows where the journey will end or when. Our destination, your destination, is eternal life. Doing my school expeditions I would have been lost, or even worse, without a map. The map for our journey is the Word of God, Jesus, the gift of the sacraments, and the teaching of the church. The fixed points on the map are love of God and our neighbour. If we keep these in sight we will not go far wrong.

When and how does Jesus come to us? How and where do we recognise him? Through our family and friends? Through members of our church community? Jesus can be hard to see and recognise, sometimes he wears distressing disguises – the person crouched in the doorway, the addict being loud on the street corner, the starving child on the TV. Jesus has many faces. Sometimes the smile of a loved one, sometimes faces of distress and pain.

Pay attention to the course of your life’s journey, its deep valleys and sunlight uplands. Look for Jesus he is always there to be found. Our destination? Eternal happiness and love sheltered in the heart of our risen saviour opened for our sake on the cross.

I am away on pilgrimage for the next couple of weeks following the footsteps of St Paul, but please accept my blessing and the assurance of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

Fr Chris