Christ is there to bail us out

In the 24th chapter of Luke, we find the disciples distressed because it is the third day since Christ’s death and his body has disappeared from the tomb. They do not know where he has gone or what they shall do. Two men decide to leave Jerusalem, taking the road to Emmaus. Little did they know that Jesus would encounter them along the way.

How often do we try to “leave Jerusalem” when things get tough or discouraging? Should we not always trust in this story, keeping in mind that no matter what road we choose, Christ is always there to encounter us?

It was in a time like this that the disciples locked themselves inside, afraid to go out. But this did not keep Christ from breaking through and meeting them! Christ wants to break into us and bail us out of whatever situation we may find ourselves in. But how much quicker could he do that if we were to leave the door unlocked, or even opened, for him? We must always remember to leave the door open for Christ in all circumstances through prayer, worship, and community, no matter how distressing the situation may seem!

When we become the robber on the road...

One of the priests here at the seminary put a good spin on the story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10).

How often do we allow anger to sway us and make us to act in a negative way when in fact love is needed all the more? How often do we become the robber on the road?

He told a story about a young girl, about 12 years old, who was a fabulous swimmer. During a race she was crushing the competition. But when it came to the last lap and a half, she suddenly stopped. Her goggles had popped off and she frantically tried to find them. By the time she found her goggles and put them back on, the girl in second place had caught her. The end of the race had the two girls neck and neck but the other girl touched the wall first. The poor little girl that had lost her goggles got out of the water sad and in need of love and comfort. But instead her father runs over to let her know how disgusted he was with her loss. He began to yell and shake his finger at her because she had failed to win the race.

In this story we find the father become the robber on the road, robbing the girl of the love that she needed to pick her spirits back up.

I still catch myself from time to time having preconceived notions about people and not letting them act otherwise. In doing this I rob them of the opportunity to experience God’s love and also live out God’s love as fully as possible. I, too, become the robber in these situations.

How do you become the robber in different situations?