Ash Wednesday to Pentecost

Emmaus

  1. Trudge down the windy road,
    A house without a light,
    The chill of empty fires
    And soon the lonely night:
    A triumph for a day,
    The panic of the tomb;
    Enigmas cloud the brain,
    Sprung from the Upper Room.
  2. Our heavy hearts pick up
    A traveller's quickened pace
    Who walks a step behind
    Hiding his eyes and face:
    His words burn deep as fire
    Where coldness lay before;
    A pattern to explain
    A message to restore.
  3. Though we were still downcast
    His gentleness was such
    We asked him to come in:
    We could not offer much
    Late on a Sunday night,
    Having been so long away;
    But he would ease our grief
    If he agreed to stay.
  4. He acted like our host,
    Giving the wine and bread
    And then we understood
    The things that He had said:
    First in the Upper Room,
    Next in the empty tomb,
    Then on the open road,
    Now in our humble home.
  5. Lord, now that You have gone
    Back to Your Father's care,
    May we be comforted
    As if You were still here:
    The light within our home,
    Our brother in distress,
    Our daily sustenance,
    Our guide to happiness.