Imagine yourself to be one of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. What would be your answer to Jesus’ question: “What are you discussing with each other as you walk along?” How would you tell the story?

They were good walkers, those two headed out for Emmaus. Seven miles stretched between Jerusalem and that little village, and the day was already on the wane. After an agonizing week of triumph turned to failure and hope crushed by grief, they had decided to cut their losses and go home.

Not long ago, I felt overwhelmed with my position as pastoral minister in a thriving parish. People were in the hospital; I had promised visits and could not get to them.

It was not going to be an easy day. Just two weeks earlier the family had gathered with profound sadness to bury my mother. We all knew she was the glue that held us together.

I heard a story once of a little girl who was lost in the woods. She wandered around looking for the family she had been separated from, but she soon grew hungry and tired and lay down and fell asleep.

Our journey of salvation through the season of Easter continues with faith that God will never abandon us.

If . . . I were asked for the most important advice I could give . . . I should simply say: In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.