Emmaus account shows Jesus’ ‘therapy of hope,’ Pope says in weekly audience

May 24, 2017

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences devoted to Christian hope, Pope Francis spoke on May 24 about Christ’s encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

“Unrecognized, the Lord walks with them and listens as they tell of how their hopes were shattered by the tragedy of the cross” the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Jesus then slowly opens their hearts to a new and greater hope by explaining how the Scriptures were fulfilled in the suffering and death of the Messiah.”

“Only later, in the breaking of the bread, is he revealed as the Risen Lord, present in their midst,” Pope Francis continued. “He then disappears and the disciples return to Jerusalem to bring back the good news.”

The Pope added:

The Emmaus account shows us Jesus’ “therapy of hope,” based on a patient accompaniment that gradually opens us to trust in God’s promises. It also shows us the importance of the Eucharist, in which, like bread, Jesus “breaks” our lives and offers them to others.

Like the disciples, we too are sent forth to encounter others, to hear their joys and sorrows, and to offer them words of life and hope based on God’s unfailing love, which accompanies us at every step of life’s journey.

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Previous general audiences on hope:

1. Isaiah 40: “Comfort, comfort my people…” (December 7)
2. Isaiah 52: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings…” (December 14)
3. Christ’s birth is the source of hope (December 21)
4. Abraham’s hope against all hope (December 28)
5. Rachel “is weeping for her children”, but... “there is hope for your descendants” (Jer. 31) (January 4)
6. The false hopes of idols (January 11)
7. Jonah: hope and prayer (January 18)
8. Judith, the Courage of a Woman Restores Hope to a People (January 25)
9. The helmet of hope (1 Thess. 5:4-11) (February 1)
10. Hope, Source of Mutual Comfort and Peace (1 Thess. 5:12-22) (February 8)
11. Hope Does Not Disappoint (February 15)
12. For in this hope, we were saved (cf. Rom. 8:19-27) (February 22)
13. Lent as a journey of hope (March 1; no audience March 8, during the Curia’s Lenten retreat)
14. Rejoice in hope (cf. Rom. 12:9-13) (March 15)
15. On Hope Founded in the Word (March 22)
16. Hope against All Hope (March 29)
17. On accounting for our hope (April 5)
18. Hopes of the world and hope of the Cross (cf. John 12:24-25) (April 12)
19. The Risen Christ our Hope (April 19)
20. “I Am with You Always” (April 26; May 3 audience devoted to Pope’s apostolic journey to Egypt)
21. The Mother of Hope (May 10)
22. Mary Magdalen, Apostle of Hope (May 17)

 

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Further information:

• 2017.05.24 - General Audience (YouTube Vatican)
• Pope General Audience: English-language summary (Vatican Radio)