One Sunday morning a long time ago, when my two oldest were still toddlers, Bill and I dropped in at our local neighborhood donut shop after a rather harried and distracted Mass where we struggled through Holy Mass with two energetic little people. :) As we sat and indulged ourselves in powdery confections, I relaxed and allowed my gaze to wander over the walls of the shop. Amidst the pictures of kolaches and pink-sprinkled donuts, was a small, tiny landscape painting hanging on the wall.
It seemed a bit out of place but it was lovely, just the same. The longer I stared at the painting, the more the landscape became secondary as I noticed there were three figures walking far off down a dusty road into the distance...Those three men intrigued me and piqued my interest. I got up from our little table and walked over to the wall where the painting hung. It was then that I saw the focal point of this little masterpiece: Jesus walking quietly along an unpaved road with two disciples (who do not recognize Him and are mourning His death) on the way to Emmaus. It was a painting of the gospel story told in Luke 24:13-25.
The scene is such a quiet and beautiful one--the three walk down an unpaved road under a beautiful canopy of trees. The glory of God is manifested in the beauty of the landscape as well as in the presence of his only begotten Son humbly appearing in the midst of two of his dejected followers--comforting them in their sorrow. Yet, the men seem as unaware of the beauty of their surroundings as they are of the Risen Lord in their midst.
How often am I unaware of the Lord's presence in my life? How many times have I traveled down the road of this life shouldering sorrows and crosses close to my breast and not recognizing the Lord's quiet and comforting presence? For He is always there, right there beside me. He reminds me in Matthew's gospel: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." What a profound meditation into the mercy of Our Lord's resurrection, this painting evokes in me. So, on this fifth day of Easter, I say to you with great joy, Alleluia, He is Risen!
I love this!
Thank you for sharing......morning donuts?
Posted by: Janet Moos | April 10, 2010 at 06:35 PM
Of course! :)
Posted by: Jennifer in TX | April 10, 2010 at 09:02 PM