The One Who Guides Us to Truth

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 5:33 pm Post subject: The One Who Guides Us to Truth

The One Who Guides Us to Truth

Scripture:

But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: You men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words.

You men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as you also know: This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. Whom God has raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be held by it. For David said concerning him: I foresaw the Lord before my face: because he is at my right hand, that I may not be moved. For this my heart has been glad, and my tongue has rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because you will not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life: you shall make me full of joy with your countenance.

You men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David: that he died and was buried; and his sepulcher is with us to this present say. Whereas therefore he was a prophet and knew that God has sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne. Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell: neither did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus has God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses. Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this which you see and hear. (Acts 2:14, 22-33)

And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judges according to the work of every one: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled, foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in the last times for you: Who through him are faithful in God who raised him up from the dead and has given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21)

And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself, also, drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know him. And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things that have been done there in these days? To whom he said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people. And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we hoped that it was he that should have redeemed Israel. And now besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. Yea and certain women also of our company frightened us who, before it was light, were at the sepulcher, and not finding his body, came, saying that they had all seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive. And some of our people went to the sepulcher and found it so as the women had said: but him they found not.

Then he said to them: O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all things, which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so, to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things that were concerning him. And they drew nigh to the town whither they were going: and he made as though he would go farther. But they constrained him, saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them. And it came to pass, while he was at table with them, he took bread and blessed and brake and gave to them. And their eyes were opened: and they knew him. And he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke in the way and opened to us the scriptures? And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them, saying: The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way: and how they knew him in the breaking of bread. (Luke 24:13-35)

Reflection:

Can we imagine what thoughts went through the minds of the disciples of the Son of God after the events in Jerusalem whereby their Lord was crucified? With fear they hid, afraid a similar fate might await them because of their association with the works of their teacher. Still, a responsibility lay upon them; a responsibility to share the truth as to what they witnessed during the days they were taught as well as to what they witnessed during those few days Jesus appeared to them after His time upon the cross.

They traveled to tell the people. They did not have the conveniences of today by which to travel or the means by which their voices might be amplified or writings shared, yet, share they did for the blessings of all who heard and for the generations to come. They spoke to those who had called for the crucifixion of their King. They helped to open their eyes to what was done. They spoke to educate, not only for the benefit of those who would hear, but also for those who crossed the paths of those who decided to live according to the blessings of the good news they received.

We might wonder, what does it take for us to see? What does it take for us to comprehend? We may share our observations and perhaps gossip about what we have heard from others, but do we seek to see with the eyes of our head without listening to what is revealed to our hearts? Do we seek academic understanding without engaging the spirit of our soul? Do we believe we can learn all which we need from the world without considering the fullness of the creation of God, which includes the kingdom beyond this world?

Many spoke of the crucifixion which only some had witnessed. Opinions were shared, but was there full understanding as to what had happened and for whom it was done? Some would share that a person of dangerous thought was removed from their midst. In their arrogance, they would attack and ridicule those who believed in the healing and salvation He promised, for they failed to consider their own ignorance. Others would observe the injustice done to an innocent man, but they did not fully comprehend the example and meaning of the love poured out for them.

The two men on the road to Emmaus were fortunate, for during the discussion of their journey, there was One who joined them and laid out for them the truth of the prophecies. In His presence, the eyes of their hearts were opened by the One who spoke to them. In breaking bread with Him, they also received His blessing and the truth of the prophecies and scriptures was revealed to them.

We might wonder, where are we at in our journey? Are we like those who see only through the ways of the world or is our heart open so that the Son of God might help us see? Do we speak to one another only for the purpose of academic understanding or personal agendas, or do we converse to learn what is necessary to guide the choices of our heart? Do we seek truth so we might better know Him or do we seek only what we might use for personal agendas?

It is possible for us to hear of Him, but fail to comprehend His meaning. It is possible for us to share stories of what He taught, but fail to understand how they were meant to lead us. It is possible that the world closes the eyes and the ears of our heart as we seek acceptance of people but fail to reach out to God. Let us not allow the world to make us blind and deaf. Let us, then, reach out to Him in prayer so that we might hear, so that we might see the blessings of His Holy truth.

Questions for further reflection:

Where might we hear the blessings of the gospel?

What do we gain if we receive the good news, but do not share it?

It what ways may we discover and comprehend all which may be revealed through scripture and the prophecies?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier