EASTER III [A] Acts 2:14, 22-33 1 Pt 1:17-21, Lk 24:13-35

This story of the appearance of Jesus, as given by Luke is very familiar to us. Two little-known disciples, Cleopas, and an unnamed disciple are trudging along the road towards Emmaus, a town located seven miles northwest of Jerusalem. Some speculate that the unknown disciple may have been Luke himself. It was the day of the Resurrection, but these two wandering disciples did not grasp the entire situation. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that they are quite disillusioned. Like the other disciples, they did not clearly hear or fully understand Jesus’ earlier predictions about his death and his resurrection. They were totally perplexed and confused, and their hope was shattered. Disbelief has overpowered them. They are leaving Jerusalem and its disturbing events because Jesus’ death was an unmitigated tragedy for them.

Like many of Jesus’ followers, these two disciples tried to make sense of their pain and loss. Their walk to Emmaus must have felt like a walk in the desert, in the darkness of death, where hope had been abandoned. Our Lord appears to them and accompanies them on this path of darkness. They fail to recognize him. St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) reflects on the dimness of their perception: "They were so disturbed when they saw him hanging on the cross that they forgot his teaching, did not look for his resurrection, and failed to keep his promises in mind" (Sermon 235.1). They told him about the crucified Jesus and how they had hoped in him. They had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. They could see the cross as only a defeat and could not comprehend the empty tomb.

Then Jesus recounts the whole story to them again, but this time invites them to enter that story, and he walks along with them. He helps them see that the entire fabric of scripture is focused on him, finds fulfillment in him, and can only be understood in him.

In terms of their faith, as the Lord begins to expound on the scriptures and open their minds to the secrets therein, their faith becomes brighter. And then, at the breaking of the bread, they fully recognize him.

The Emmaus story is the Eucharist explained. The Word of God must ultimately lead to the Sacrament. It is in the Eucharist that the Word becomes flesh. And so, St Luke is using the very same words which he had used in Chapter 22 to describe the Eucharistic meal. At the table, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

It is in the communion of this broken Body, that they can truly meet the Risen Christ. The opening of the Scriptures was necessary, but it was not sufficient. Our non-Catholic brethren have only the breaking of the bread in their services, not the full recognition of the Lord in the breaking of the Bread. They do not see the real presence of the Lord in their breaking of the bread. In the Mass, the Word becomes flesh, dwells among us, and feeds us with his real flesh and blood, not symbolic ones.

Every Mass follows the pattern of Emmaus journey. We are enlightened by the word of God recounting God’s plan of salvation starting from the Old Testament, going through the Psalms, and then to the Gospels, and when our faith in the risen Lord is strengthened, we profess our faith and ask him for the needs of the world and the community of the believers and eventually leading to the breaking of the bread. And at the end, we are told to go and announce that the Risen Lord.

The journey to Emmaus begins in blindness, gloom, disillusionment, and despair. It ends with the warming of the disciples’ hearts, the opening of their eyes, and their return to Jerusalem. It begins with the shattering of an immature faith and ends with the disciples giving witness to a mature faith.

Emmaus, again is wherever we meet the Risen Christ in ordinary moments, and Easter comes to dwell in us. The Emmaus story helps us understand the Lord’s presence where, often before, we had experienced his absence. In light of the Emmaus story, we all recognize that we do not walk alone.  This story can also be seen as a symbol of the Eucharist. The disciples encounter Jesus on the way. They express their disillusionment and sense of helplessness as they walk the road to nowhere.

Today God challenges us to meet the Risen Christ who comes to us in ordinary life situations.  All of the Easter accounts suggest that Christ comes to us in the places where we live our lives. The risen Lord told the disciples to go to Galilee, where they will find him. Galilee was where they lived their everyday lives. The Easter story and the story of the Emmaus journey hover around us all the time. God never forces himself on us, but Christ joins us as a consoling letter from a friend.

The Risen Lord is ever ready to speak his word to us and to give us an understanding of his ways. Do we listen attentively to the Word of God and allow his word to change and transform us?
Let’s pray that the Lord may open the eyes of our hearts to recognize his presence with us and to understand the truth of his nourishing us with his saving word and the Eucharist.