“Were not our hearts burning within us?”
Emmaus Service

A church service based on the account of the disciples on the way to Emmaus
- for young people – incorporating the Eucharist

Preparation

Consider ways in which the young people can come into dialogue. Alternatively: find places, rooms, parts of the house or church, where the young people can discuss in twos or threes.
The service can be held in conjunction with the Eucharist at two places – the first part in the parish centre, youth centre, outside in a large circle; the second part in the church, or where the altar is situated (e.g., at a camp site).
The main subject of the service is the Emmaus account (Lk 24), so it replaces the other readings.
Prepare meditative music

Hymn

Opening and Introduction

We have gathered + in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

We Christians believe that Jesus goes with us on our way through life.

• He walks with us wherever our way may lead.
  
• He walks with us when we experience joy and happiness.
  
• He walks with us when we are sad or afraid.
  
• He accompanies us through the light of day.
  
• He accompanies us through the dark of night.
  

The Bible tells us that Jesus really does go with us, he accompanies us.
We read that
God, whom we cannot see, comes humanly close to us – in Jesus Christ.
Jesus walked with people, he was close to them.
He made them aware of God’s footprints in their lives.
At Easter he accompanied two of his disciples on their way to Emmaus.
You know the account of this journey to Emmaus:

• He sought their company.
  
• He asked them what was worrying them.
  
• He explained the events of Good Friday and Easter to them from the Scriptures.
  
• He broke bread with them.
  
• And in the strength of this encounter the disciples returned to Jerusalem to proclaim
• the good news of the resurrection to everyone.

I invite you in this service to follow the disciples on the way to Emmaus.
We want to walk this way with Jesus Christ in twos.
As we do so we want to enter into what happened there.
We will be reading parts of the Emmaus account in St Luke’s Gospel bit by bit, and personally do what is described there.

First of all, let us greet and invoke Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Brother and Friend, our companion on the way, who is in our midst.

Kyrie

Between each text we sing or pray the Kyrie – Lord, have mercy

• Lord Jesus Christ, you are here amongst us:
  Kyrie, Kyrie eleison
  
  
• Lord Jesus Christ, you are on the way with us as you were with the disciples on the way to Emmaus.
  Christe, Christe eleison
  
  
• Lord Jesus Christ, you show us how God feels about us.
  Kyrie, Kyrie eleison
  

Prayer

God of life,
you love us and remain close to us.
You go with us on our path through life
as Jesus accompanied his disciples to Emmaus.
Help us to grow in your love
and lead us to the goal of our lives.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Part 1

Gospel Part 1: Lk 24,13-24

“They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened”

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

Introduction to the Emmaus journey:

In this section we will follow the first two steps of “Looking for God’s Footprints”, the meditation “SMS from God”: Remember and share.

Jesus went with the two on their journey.
We also believe that Jesus Christ is with us on our way through life.
We want to experience this in a way that draws in our senses by going outside and walking together. We are now the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.

Jesus asked them: What is worrying you? What is burdening you? What moves you?

We want to tell each other the answer as we walk on our way together. In our discussion let us honour each other’s privacy.
Since Jesus Christ is in our midst and walks with us, although we cannot see him, what we say to each other we also say to him.
Let us set off now and meet again in 15 minutes.

While the young people/congregation leave, meditative music is played.

Part 2

Gospel Part 2: Lk 24, 25-27

“He interpreted to them” – Jesus explains

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer all these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures..

Pointers for Discussion:

In this section we will be following the third step of “Looking for God’s Footprints”, the meditation “SMS from God”: Discover

Jesus went with the two disciples on their journey.
Jesus interpreted their experiences from what was written in the scriptures.
We are also invited to see our experiences in the light of faith.
Let us ask ourselves:

• Where can we guess at God’s footprint from what I/you have experienced?
  
• Where can I feel his closeness, and discover his beauty, his guidance and his wishes?
  
• Where has God found me worthy to bear a heavy burden? Where do I find that I cannot understand God?

Let us take a few minutes to share with our neighbour.

We want to close our discussion by asking God silently for what we need, or tell him how we are feeling at the moment.

Part 3

In this section we want to follow the fourth step of “Looking for God’s Footprints”, the meditation “SMS from God”: Answer.
Our answer will continue at the end of this service when all who have taken part go home.

Gospel Part 3: Lk 24,28-32

“Lord, stay with us.” He took bread, blessed and broke it.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

Pointers:

After Jesus had listened to the worries of his disciples and interpreted them in the light of faith, he allowed them to invite him to join them at table.
Jesus broke the bread, he celebrated the Eucharist with them. Only then did they recognize that he had been with them on the road.

We want to do this now:
Now that we have spoken about our lives, and tried to interpret them in the light of faith, we want to celebrate our communion with Jesus Christ and one another in the Eucharist.

We bring the gifts of bread and wine, and with them our lives, and say:
See, God, this is our life, these are our experiences, these are our joys and what makes us happy, but also all the difficulties we have encountered.
We are binging them to you as our gifts.

Offertory

A suitable hymn or song could be sung or hummed meditatively.
.

Prayer over the gifts

God of our lives,
you give us so many experiences each day.
We would so much like to believe
that you always accompany us on our way through life.
Along with the gifts of bread and wine accept our good will
and change our lives, so that our road through life
may please you and bring us your blessing and happiness.
This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer

for Masses for special intentions: III Jesus, our Way

Sanctus

Agnus Dei

Thanksgiving (see Hymns)

Concluding prayer

Part 4

In this fourth section we will follow the fourth step of “Looking for God’s Footprints”, the meditation “SMS from God”, into everyday life: Answer

Gospel Part 4: Lk 24,33-35

“They got up and returned to Jerusalem”

That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Conclusion:

So at the end of this service we are invited to set off on our way. Through what we have discussed and experienced together we feel urged to thank God, to ask, to give and to change.
Perhaps there are things in our lives that we cannot understand. So let us tell God and put our questions to him.
The message of this service has been that God is with us. Jesus Christ goes with us. We are invited, like his disciples, to pass on this message of God’s blessing and his closeness to us.

Blessing

Closing hymn (see Hymns)