Talk about sadness and desperation, Pope Leo. Taking inspiration from the feelings of the apostles who, after the death of Jesus, «depart from Jerusalem, leaving behind the hopes placed in Jesus, who was crucified and buried. In the opening lines, this episode shows itself as a paradigm of human sadness: the end of the goal in which so much energy has been invested, the destruction of what appeared to be the essential part of one’s life. Hope has vanished, desolation has taken possession of the heart. Everything imploded in a very short time, between Friday and Saturday, in a dramatic succession of events. The paradox is truly emblematic: this sad journey of defeat and return to the ordinary takes place on the same day as the victory of light, of Easter which is fully consummated.”
We experience it today too. Like that of the apostles, «invasive and widespread, sadness accompanies the days of many people. It is a feeling of precariousness, sometimes of profound desperation that invades the inner space and which seems to prevail over every burst of joy. Sadness takes away meaning and vigor from life, which becomes like a journey without direction and meaning.”
Yet Jesus is risen and his resurrection, which did not occur in a sensational way, “much less violent, but mild, hidden, one might say humble” is capable of “healing one of the diseases of our time: sadness”.
In the Gospel story «the two men have their backs to Golgotha, to the terrible scenario of the cross still imprinted in their eyes and in their hearts. Everything seems lost. We need to go back to our old lives, with a low profile, hoping not to be recognised. At a certain point, a traveler joins the two disciples, perhaps one of the many pilgrims who were in Jerusalem for Easter. It is Jesus risen, but they don’t recognize him. Sadness clouds their gaze, erases the promise that the Master had made several times: that he would be killed and that on the third day he would be resurrected.” They talk, but the two have a “sad face”. Leone explains that «the Greek adjective used describes an integral sadness: the paralysis of the soul shines through on their faces. Jesus listens to them, lets them vent their disappointment. Then, with great frankness, he reproaches them for being “foolish and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have said!”, and through the Scriptures he demonstrates that Christ had to suffer, die and rise again. The warmth of hope is rekindled in the hearts of the two disciples, and then, when evening falls and they reach their destination, they invite the mysterious traveling companion to stay with them. Jesus accepts and sits at the table with them. Then he takes the bread, breaks it and offers it. At that moment the two disciples recognize him… but he immediately disappears from their sight.” It is the gesture of breaking the bread that «reopens the eyes of the heart, illuminates again the vision clouded by desperation. And then everything becomes clear: the shared path, the tender and strong word, the light of truth… Joy is immediately rekindled, energy flows again in tired limbs, memory becomes grateful again. And the two quickly return to Jerusalem, to tell everything to the others. “The Lord is truly Risen”. In this “truly” “the certain destination of our history as human beings takes place. It is no coincidence that it is the greeting that Christians exchange on Easter day. Jesus was not resurrected in words, but in deeds, with his body which retains the signs of his passion, the perennial seal of his love for us.” And therefore «the victory of life is not a vain word, but a real, concrete fact. May the unexpected joy of the disciples of Emmaus be a gentle reminder to us when the journey becomes difficult. It is the Risen One who radically changes perspective, instilling hope that fills the void of sadness.” Leo underlines that ««the Risen One walks with us and for us. It bears witness to the defeat of death, it affirms the victory of life, despite the darkness of Calvary. The story still has much to hope for. Recognizing the Resurrection means changing our outlook on the world: returning to the light to recognize the Truth that saved us and continues to save us. Sisters and brothers, let us remain vigilant every day in the wonder of the Easter of the risen Jesus. He alone makes the impossible possible!
