Disappointment means an appointment was dissed. We had been looking forward to an experience of something good, beneficial, enjoyable, useful, positive or helpful and it did not happen. The good experience was replaced by something less desirable. The appointment was dissed.
In the Gospel story of the Road to Emmaus, there are two very disappointed disciples of Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). They thought Jesus would be their key to political liberation from the occupying Romans. Profoundly inspired by his teaching, they had left everything to go with him to Jerusalem. Now he was dead. In their disappointment, they saw no point in staying around with the other disciples so they headed home to Emmaus to pursue their old way of life.
When Jesus joined them on the road, they were so lost in their disappointment they did not even recognize him. Then something amazing happened at dinner. When Jesus blessed and broke the bread, they were suddenly pulled out of their disappointment and their eyes were opened to recognizing him. In the Breaking of the Bread, they realized Jesus had been with them all along. With new found confidence and courage, they moved from disappointment to making a new commitment to follow Jesus and return with him to Jerusalem.
We know disappointment in our lives. We have made appointments with people, activities and groups that we thought would be good and wonderful and things did not work out that way. We were dissed. Like the disciples on the road, we have been lost in disappointment and have wanted to shut down and go back to our old ways.
Along with the disciples on the road, when we break the Bread of the Eucharist at Mass, we recognize the real presence of Jesus. Through our recognition of him, Jesus can pull us out of our disappointments and assist us in making new appointments with that which is good, helpful, beneficial and nourishing for us. Every Sunday invites us to keep our appointment to gather and celebrate the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We will not be disappointed.
Together in faith,
Very Rev. Christopher Smith, Rector