by Greg Evers

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with our Precious Blood missionaries serving in Guatemala. On Sunday afternoons I would go out for walks on my own in the neighborhood I was staying in. Just down the road was a tin shack leaned up against the side of another building. Inside this shack lived a family with small children. This encounter created a kind of cognitive dissonance in me. Although we were only separated by a few feet, our worlds could not have been farther apart. I live a relatively comfortable life while this family lives in abject poverty.

This encounter came to mind when I read Pope Francis’ reflection on the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus opened their minds to the meaning of the Scriptures as He walked alongside them. This encounter, and many others like it, opened the ears of my heart to what we would call the “Cry of the Blood.” This encounter led me to where I am today serving a largely immigrant population in parish ministry. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, I encountered Christ in that moment and was called to respond with my heart.