Jesus
has risen, but no one knows. After his public Death on Calvary, his
followers are immersed in darkness, but a new dawn is beginning. Jesus
has chosen two of his disciples who are returning home from Jerusalem.
He appears to them as just another traveler among the many who journey
to and from Jerusalem for Passover. The Risen Jesus joins their
conversation, and unrecognized, he enters into dialogue with them.
Step
by step Jesus dispels their doubts and calms their anguished hearts.
Their eyes are opened to the beauty of an unexpected reality, and their
sadness is turned to joy.
What did Jesus say to them? How did he turn their defeat into victory?
Through
deep biblical knowledge and with a great respect for the sources, Rev.
Joaquin Paniello becomes a silent witness to a remarkable dialogue. He
systematically searches the Scriptures that foretell the Messiah and
connects them to the experiences of the disciples recorded in the
Gospels.
In
the icon of the two disciples from Emmaus, the personal journey of many
of us shines through… Indeed, it can happen that we look toward Jesus
enthusiastically at first, often prompted by cultural or emotional
motivations which, precisely for this reason, are quickly depleted. Over
time, the initial spiritual emotions are not enough: We see that things
are not going well, that we are unable to create unity between our real
life and the faith we thought we had, and that failures ensue. This is
the experience of the two disciples.
“Why
Are You Downcast?” allows the reader to identify with these two
disciples and understand what it means to give the very reason for our
hope!
