Where do broken hearts go? Emmaus!

Listening to the Spirit

Emmaus Prayer

Lord, as we walk down the journey of life,
we ask that you would be our constant companion,
particularly on those days when we are disheartened
or when we have strayed off of your path.

When we are downcast,
we ask that you lift our spirits.
When we are confused,
We ask that you enlighten our minds.
When we are disappointed,
we ask that you give us hope.

You, Lord, have blessed us with your gospel.
Open our minds and hearts to receive your word,
and send your Holy Spirit to give us understanding.
May your teaching take root in our lives
and guide us in your ways.

While we have faith in you, Lord,
we also have our moments of doubt.
We ask that you would deepen our faith,
so that rededicated to you,
we would give bolder witness,
and freely and gladly give generous service.

You gently ask us to invite you into our hearts and homes.
With a spirit of welcome and humility,
we invite you to dwell with us always.
We offer our praise and thanks for the many ways that you feed us
and provide for our many needs.

Listening to the Word

Luke 24:13-35

That very day of the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazorean, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

Reflection

There is a famous song, “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Whitney Houston, that asks a very human question: Where do broken hearts go? It is not just a line in a song—it is a question many of us carry in silence. Where do we go when life disappoints us, when plans fall apart, when hope slowly fades?

In today's Gospel, we hear the same question, though expressed differently. Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem, and they say, “We had hoped…” That simple phrase reveals everything. It is the language of broken hearts. It means: we believed, we trusted, we expected—but something happened, and now we are no longer sure. In many ways, this is also our story today. We had hoped that life would be easier, that things would stabilize, that our efforts would bear fruit. But instead, prices rise, uncertainty grows, and quietly, something in us begins to lose hope.

The Gospel tells us that these disciples were on their way to Emmaus. And perhaps this is the answer to the question: Where do broken hearts go? They go to Emmaus. But Emmaus is not simply a place on the map; it is a human experience. It is where we go when we are tired, discouraged, and confused—when life does not turn out the way we expected. Today, many are walking toward their own Emmaus: families burdened by rising costs, workers uncertain about tomorrow, hearts weighed down by anxiety.

Yet the story does not end there. As they walk, a stranger joins them. He does not interrupt; he listens. He allows them to speak about their pain. And more than anything, he walks with them. That stranger is the Risen Christ. This is the good news: broken hearts are not abandoned hearts. Even when we do not recognize Him, Christ walks with us in our confusion and disappointment. He is present in quiet ways—in the parent trying to provide despite difficulty, in the worker who continues despite uncertainty, in the neighbor who shares even a little. Like in Emmaus, He is there—unrecognized, but real.

The turning point comes when they sit at the table. When Jesus breaks the bread, their eyes are opened. They finally recognize Him. And in that moment, their hearts begin to burn again. What was broken is slowly restored. What was lost is rekindled. And instead of continuing to Emmaus, they turn back to Jerusalem—to hope, to faith, and to life.

So today, we ask again: Where do broken hearts go? They go to Emmaus—but they do not remain there. Because on that road, Christ meets them, walks with them, and transforms them. If today your heart feels heavy, if hope seems distant, if you find yourself saying, “We had hoped…” do not be afraid. You are not alone on that road. Christ is already walking with you. And if you allow Him, He will lead you from disappointment to hope, from brokenness to a heart that burns again.