Apr 25, 2020

3rd Sunday of Easter - They came to know him



(James Tissot: The road to Emmaus)

"Stay with us"

Luke 24: 13 - 35


This Sunday we hear a compelling Easter story that moves us from despair and dejection to great joy and wonder.  The beautiful Gospel story of the road to Emmaus is a walk through darkness to light, from ignorance of Christ to an understanding of his presence in our midst, and a convincing reminder of the value of our celebration of the Mass with our community of faith gathered.  In this time of exile, I personally find it especially challenging as we long to be gathered with the Lord again.

Yet, we can enter this experience of those two disciples.  It’s helpful for us to put ourselves in their shoes, or sandals, and try to feel what they felt. In their journey away from Jerusalem it seems they are walking away from the answer they seek.  A lot of questions rise.  Why were they walking away from Jerusalem? Where was Emmaus, a spot never clearly identified?  How could they have not recognized Jesus as he walked with them?

Well, it is a story of faith. They did not expect the risen Lord to walk with them in such an ordinary setting. They were downcast, in active conversation, debating and more attentive to their own arguments than who walked with them.

Luke tells us this took place on that same Sunday evening when the women had come in that morning to describe the open tomb of Jesus. These companions were not in the circle of the now eleven Apostles, but somehow still in their company.  They likely did not hide with the Apostles, yet knew where they were, and somehow heard the testimony of the women who found the tomb empty that morning.  Perhaps Emmaus was their home and they were simply returning there as they remained downcast and discouraged by all the events around Jesus’ death, they find themselves in deep conversation along the way. 

Where was Emmaus?  There are presently six spots beyond Jerusalem which have claimed to be such.  It really doesn’t matter a specific spot but good to know that the story is too like other resurrection stories to say it is only a symbolic event but rather a real encounter these other disciples had of the risen Christ. The essence of the story is more important than the geographical details.

So, in the midst of their disillusionment a stranger approaches and joins them in their walk.  Who was he?  They never asked his name but shared their surprise that he was ignorant of “the things that have taken place there (in Jerusalem) these past few days.”  They thought him to be a visitor for many came and went from that sacred City and evidently the crucifixion of Jesus was a hot topic of conversation. 

There is a certain irony in this.  Of all that would know those events it would be Jesus himself! Yet, he gently opens their minds to the scriptures, despite calling them “foolish.” Maybe a way of saying, “are you so dense you don’t get it?” It’s not an insult but rather a true pay attention moment.

Jesus begins with the scriptures they knew, the Old Testament, and opened their minds through an understanding how all pointed to him. That his death and suffering was prophesied, the suffering Messiah was something they should have known and connected the dots to the astounding events they had witnessed.   He takes them on a long explanation from Moses through the prophets.  That’s some scripture study indeed!  And to add the resurrection to that would make the story both complete and inspirational.  Yet, for now it remains a gradual understanding but something they found burned in their hearts.  They ask him to stay with them as they approach the village, and so he does.

As they broke bread, their eyes were now open; their hearts filled with faith and their sadness was turned to overwhelming wonder and joy.  They recognized the risen Lord in their midst in the breaking of the bread.  We can only imagine what a profound moment this was because, though already at nighttime, they rush back to Jerusalem despite the dangers of night travel, to relate to the eleven this moment of encounter with the risen Lord.  They must have burst into the hiding place and shouted, “We have seen him!”  Jesus brought them to understand his presence through the word and in breaking bread as he did at the Last Supper just four days before, he reveled himself to them.   

To the early Christian Church this story must have been told again and again.  Now, more than 2,000 years after that amazing day, we still hear it with fresh power.  During the Easter season we reflect on the power of our Baptism and this Sunday on the gift of the Eucharist expressed through our celebration of the Mass. 

The famous quote of St. Jerome: “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ” I think is meaningful here.  The disciples on the road were trying to understand something they should have known.  To connect the lines of prophecy through their sacred texts would have shown them, as Jesus himself related to them, that what happened was part of the story.  The empty tomb should have made them stop and wonder and not be blindsided. But it was all so overwhelming and filled with emotion that it must have taken some time to sort everything out.

Let’s not miss the point here, however, about ourselves.  In the celebration of our Mass we gather, albeit virtually at this time, to hear the word of God broke open.  How carefully do I listen to the words proclaimed? Do the words just pass over my head as I patiently wait for Communion? As Catholics we must treasure the sacred texts with the same reverence as the Eucharist.  The living word of God is reveled to us and although his presence in the scriptures is different from the Eucharist, it is true and real as someone who talks with you in conversation is present to you.   

Once their hearts were open, they break bread and Jesus is seen with them.  The same is true in our Mass.  Once our hearts are open by God’s word, we then prepare to meet the Lord under the signs of bread and wine.  Although we may not see him as those early disciples did, we see him present through the eyes of faith.  Jesus vanished from their sight but he remained with them nonetheless.  A lesson now in how he will be present from that time on in his Church.  No longer restrained by space and time his spiritual presence in the sacraments and the hearts of believers is even truer than before. So we believe this?

In this Easter season let’s pray more intensely for eyes of faith.  Our faith is being tested greatly at this unprecedented time.  The greatest test we may feel we have is that of our patience, I know it is for me. 

Yet, we are all on a walk with the Lord.  Even though we may not see him we know as those disciples experienced that he remains with us and knows our needs.  We are invited to companionship with the Lord as we open our hearts to the Scriptures and to his sacramental presence in our midst. 

Look with kindness upon your people, O Lord,
and grant that those you were pleased to renew
by eternal mysteries
may attain in their flesh
the incorruptible glory of the resurrection. 

(Prayer after Communion)







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