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<\/p>\nIt\u2019s a long road to Emmaus. I walk it each and every day. Like the two disciples in today\u2019s Gospel reading, I would love to run into Jesus during my travels. But I fear that as Celopas and his friend did, I won\u2019t recognize Jesus.<\/p>\n
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I was thinking about the story of the Road to Emmaus as I traveled back to Austin from Florida at the end of spring break a couple of weeks ago. Did I encounter Jesus on the way home but did not realize it? Perhaps Jesus could have been any one of these strangers I ran into along the way:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The airline employee who though not particularly friendly, tagged our checked luggage efficiently.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent who randomly selected me to swab my hands for explosives.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The other TSA agent who said, \u201cCome here, princess\u201d to encourage my three-year-old daughter to walk through the metal detector by herself.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The airport store cashier who very slowly helped us purchase two very expensive bottles of juice for my daughters.<\/p>\n
\u2022 All the men in line for the next available toilet in the airport bathroom.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The airline agent at the gate next to ours who had to explain to his customers that their flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico was going to be delayed.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The flight attended who had a hard time demonstrating how to use the life preserver because the straps were tangled.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The strangers, presumably a husband and wife, sitting next to me on the plane who cuddled each other to sleep after the plane took off.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The flight attendant who gave my wife and daughters, seated across the aisle from me, a few extra bags of Doritos because my kids are addicted to them.<\/p>\n
\u2022 All the passengers who complained because the airline\u2019s satellite TV system was malfunctioning.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The pilot who safely navigated us through a roller coaster of turbulence over Louisiana.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The snuggling passenger next to me who, upon waking up, rang the flight attendant button to ask for a bottle of water and a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The flight attendant who forgot to bring that cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The woman who let me go ahead of her while exiting the plane because I was carrying my daughter.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The passenger at baggage claim whom I accidentally bumped with my backpack. I said sorry; he didn\u2019t reply.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The long-term parking lot shuttle driver who cracked jokes and put a smile on the faces of many tired travelers.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The parking lot cashier who said nothing to me other than \u201c$35.\u201d<\/p>\n
It fascinates me that anyone I run into on any given day could be Jesus. But it saddens me that I might not recognize him.<\/p>\n
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