The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-21

IA "a Ao EIl ulOIullB blSll1uGS lOlSNO
Ea that our best ideal even though
KN slain and buried by the enemies
GwM of all goodness, cannot be kept
in the grave. Cruelty Truth on
Calvary, and wound it to death; place
1t in the strongest of sepulchres, and
set a seal of stone, and Truth will
rise again. 1t is the history of every
Great Cause of Goodness-frst cruel
fixion, after being misunderstood and
mistreated; then entombment, and
then resurrection The story of Jesus
death and resurrection is the per-
ennial symbol Of these things.
If your Cause, or your Truth, or
your Vision Of Goodness has not done
much for you-has not won your love
and observation-disclosures it was slain, you
will not likely recognize it when it has
proved itself superior to death.
Secondly, we will know our Lost
Cause when we get back to something
like the sad set of circumstances in
which we lost the thing SO dear.
There is always a place where we
mentally lose our Christ-where we
spiritually recognize the tragedy of
the overwhelming of cur adored Ideal.
If that adored Ideal is to have a
resurrection, and we are to know it,
as our Christ-that is, as the Power
in our life which saves us-we must
be ready to find Christ in the same
circumstances-at the same mental
crossroads where we lost him.
These disciples knew their tragic
loss at the Last Supper. Crucifxion
and Easter followed. Easter Sunday
evening came, and some of the dis
ciples started OF t, perplexed and be-
wildered, on an eight-mile journey to
Emmaus, with mysterious fellow
traveller. Their mood was like the
April weather. The springtime was
walking through the gardens, OPEN
ing buds into bloom, and iberating
the song in the birds throat, as these
men passed on; but they were think
ing of little save the news which
stirred uncertainty in heart and brain
Every new turn of events served only
to start questions and stimulate vague
hopes, like unto those which had been
| destroyed on Calvary.
The Stranger felt this mood, and
said to them: What manner of COM
munications are these that ye have
one to another, as ye walk and are
sad?" One of them was so full of hts
own thoughts and of the event that
had engrossed their attention that
he said in reply: art thou only a
stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not
known the things which are come to
pass there in these days?"
Soon the Stranger was opening up
to the two sad companions the treas
ure-house of the Scriptures. They
were now near the village It ap-
peared that their new comrade was
going straight on and away from
them. He had hidden them a good
evening. Something in them, how
ever made it impossible for them to
let him go. Something in him was
life and light, and it must not be
lost. The night was near; would he
not abide with them. Besides the
dictate of hospitality thus expressed,
their hearts were speaking. He had
warmed into life the dearest hope they
ever had, and they thought it had per-
ished. A resurrection had already oc-
CURED to them. If they failed to hear
all that he had to say they might lose
everything.
AS we read the gospel story we have
a sense of glad relief when we come
upon Luke's words: But they con-
strained him, saying, Abide with US,
for 1t is toward evening, and the day
! is far spent He went in to tarry
with them" Who has not expressed
the desire to have been there with
the three, as they sat at the evening
meal together? Was anything to re-
mind them Of that Last Supper? AS
was customary, the guest had the
chief seat at the table, and he took
the bread, uttered the blessing and
gave it to them.
Then came their glad cry: "It is
the Lord!" Was it his touch upon
the bread SO like the touch upon the
bread and wine at the supper In the
upper room, where they saw him last
the Last Supper"-that made them
recognize him? Certainly he seems
to hint this, in the phrase which re-
calls the past, as he says: while I
was yet with you"
The lesson for us is to look for our
Lost Ideals, which are Risen Ideals,
IN the very circumstances where they
were lost. Expect them to appear to
you and to me, in the mental mood
and tense which were yours and
mine. when we confessed to our hearts
that We had seen them betrayed and
forsaken.