Apr 23 Sun
The two disciples going to Emmaus had become disheartened after what had happened on the afternoon of Good Friday. Now the Master was dead and buried; they have almost lost all hope. They are beginning to feel that life has no meaning for them.

We must be on guard against the temptation of discouragement. St Josemaría: “God may give us the necessary light to help us know how we are faring at certain moments; but at other times, we may be convinced that we are doing badly, or even getting worse. Often, this is not so. We are wrong: our Lord is simply rewarding our perseverance by giving us more light and greater love. We then begin to see the small things, the defects that weigh us down, as if they were very big things, and they cause us greater sorrow. Be thankful for that light, and struggle without losing your peace.

“How many saints are there on this earth? Not one! We are all capable of committing the worst atrocities imaginable. You've heard me say again and again that holiness consists of struggling, realizing we have defects and trying to overcome them. We'll be like that till we die: on our way to holiness. Otherwise, who could possibly put up with us? We wouldn't be saints at all; we'd be totally unbearable. Holiness consists of having defects and fighting against them, but we'll still have them when we die.

“Stay with us, Lord, because our souls are shrouded in darkness, and you alone are the light. You alone can satisfy this longing that consumes us. For we know full well that among all things fair and honorable the best is to possess God for ever.

“And Jesus stays. Our eyes are opened, as were those of Cleophas and his companion, when Christ breaks the bread; and though he vanishes once more from sight, we too will find strength to start out once more - though night is falling - to tell the others about him, because so much joy cannot be kept in one heart alone.

Let us not forget that our Lady is “the channel of divine grace ... the aqueduct, through which all the graces of heaven come from God our Lord to us on earth. We can receive nothing without her.”