In this guided meditation, or imaginative contemplation, you are invited to join Cleopas and Simeon as they walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, encountering a man on the road who has some remarkable things to say.

The meditation is based closely on Luke 24:13-33.

Cleopas is named in the text, and Simeon is held by the Franciscan tradition as the second person in the story.

It might be that Cleopas was Jesus’ uncle, and Simeon may have been his son (a cousin of Jesus). Simeon is thought to have become the second bishop of Jerusalem. Regardless of specific identity, what matters most is that these men had faces, shoes, families, hearts, minds and inclinations. They knew Jesus, they had followed him and had hoped that he would redeem Israel.

May they become real to you in a new way as you encounter them here today.

** If you want help imagining the landscape surrounding Jerusalem, you might quickly peruse these photos.

Grace and blessings as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God’s love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

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For more information please visit www.contemplativeathome.com.

I used a number of sounds from freesound.org to make the ambiance for this meditation.

All music by Pete Hatch.