A slow and prayerful two or three time reading of St. Luke's gospel from today's liturgy offers those who express a desire to be united with Christ the challenge to be honest. This can, at times be like climbing the rocks of Molakai, pictured above. The challenge is to be faithful, to be loyal to the call that we have heard in our hearts from Jesus Christ. So many times it is a call that can easily be left unanswered or ignored for a time.
For example, how many will bypass regular chores this evening to watch the conclusion of the presidential campaign? When there is "something better" that comes before us, how easy it is to put aside obligations or promises.
Each day, throughout our lives, we are offered opportunities to strengthen our relationship with God. The marvelous truth is that we do not have to leave our homes or offices to live in this relationship. No need to run to a shopping center. No need to walk to a classroom. Each day there is, I hope, a book available to you which will open a daily learning experience that will help give content to the pledged dedication to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
In the Bible every page is an invitation from God. It is his offering to teach us about himself, about ourselves and about others. In every book or letter in the Bible there is a road map for our journey of life leading us to the Father. This is one invitation from which we should not want to seek to be excused. This is a divine invitation to walk with Jesus Christ, just as the two disciples did on their saddened way to Emmaus. Like them, we hope, our walking with the Lord in the written word of sacred scripture will lead us to an experience when our hearts will be set on fire with the desire always to be with him.
