For me, no appearance on the first Sunday after Easter is more vivid or beautiful than the scripture lesson shared by the Gospel writer Luke of the episode that takes place on the Road to Emmaus. S. MacLean Gilmore describes it "as a story of singular grace and charm."

As our Gospel lesson begins we see that Cleopas and an unnamed disciple are leaving behind the bitter memories of Jerusalem and are walking to the Village of Emmaus.

As they walk they begin to review the series of events that had taken place on that day we now call Good Friday--but it was hardly "good" for them. Their religious leader and traveling companion had been arrested, tried, and crucified like a common criminal at Golgotha upon a cross. The event now shadowed them everywhere they went. They could not get it out of…