There is something deeply attractive about the narrative of the two disciples who encountered the Risen Christ and walked with him from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Countless artists have painted the Road to Emmaus, often bathe in a shade of gold as the day draws to a close, when dusk beckons, the silhouettes lengthen, and the light dips beyond the rugged crests to the village below. This simple sketch by a pupil of Rembrandt is no less dramatic.

Upon reaching Emmaus, St Luke tells us that only by persuading Jesus to stay with them a bit longer and to share the evening’s meal with them did the disciples finally received the gift of insight into the entire journey’s teaching on the road. And what remained of the rest of the evening – or the evening’s rest? Perish the thought! The two disciplines got up and returned to Jerusalem ‘at once’, to share with the rest what they had just discovered. All in, the disciplines walked 22 kilometres both ways – not a small feat by today’s reckoning, and with the latter half of the journey in darkness.

The Road to Emmaus (and back) has several lessons for contemporary living: The gift of health, the pleasures of keeping and being physically fit for a rugged undertaking. The gift of health is not to be taken lightly. Contemporaneous medical researchers tells us that by walking at least 10 kilometres a week, we can stave off the risk of early dementia or premature ageing of the brain by fifty percent.

The wonders of being so totally interested and absorbed in a subject matter that time and distance becomes irrelevant. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi researched on the concept of ‘flow’, when we engage in meaningful work where our skills are challenged to a level of complexity that it becomes effortless, and joyful.

The promise of a deeper relationship and of great appreciation and discovery, if only we allow ourselves more time, more space, to invite Jesus into our place. How often have we taken the easy path of a superficial nod and the briefest of conversations with our neighbours, siblings or family, instead of deepening our relationships in true conversations?

The commitment to carry out an important task now, to share something urgent immediately – weary though we may be. Modern life has given us many softer options but the day will come when our resolve and intent to act for a worthwhile undertaking, however arduous, will be put to the test.

What did the two disciples do when they finally opened their eyes? – retraced their steps “at once” to share their precious new insights with their fellow apostles, fully absorbed in recollecting their conversation with Jesus.

Pupil of Rembrandt corrected by Rembrandt, Christ with Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus c. 1655. 192 x 248 mm Pen and brush in brown ink and wash with white highlights on paper The Print Room, University of Warsaw Library

From, The Road to Emmaus (And Back), a Reflection first contributed to The Apostle, a newsletter of the Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Singapore, 8 May 2011 (3rd Sunday of Easter).