Easter is all about hope. The message of Easter is that Jesus didn’t just die on the cross and then go back to heaven. He overcame sin, and then He came back to us. By appearing to Peter, Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus disciples, and many more, He gave us proof that He is still involved in our lives. He showed us that He still wants to heal us and help us follow Him. He showed us that He has great hope for our future and so should we. It can be easy to find yourself on your own road to Emmaus, sometimes without even knowing how you got there. But you don’t have to stay there! Turn to Jesus and ask Him to help you. See the signs of hope all around you. Spend just a few minutes with Him and take something from your past, big or small, and invite Him in. Try this a few times and see if you find yourself feeling more hopeful.
At his first Easter Vigil Mass in 2013 Pope Francis said, “to remember what God has done and continues to do for me…to remember the road we have traveled…this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future.” Remember the past. See God’s hand in it. Look back on the road you have traveled and ask Jesus to take away the sting of painful memories. The more we can do this, the greater sense of hope we will have for our future. Let Jesus come to you and show you that your future can be just as glorious as His. Let Him help you to face whatever challenges life has yet to throw at you. Believe that He is with you every step of the way, just as He was with the two disciples of Emmaus.