“That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”
And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”
They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Luke 24:13-35
The Emmaus reading in Luke’s Gospel is so special to me and for our Emmaus ministry. It is read at every prep meeting and throughout the retreat weekend. It is a focus of meditation and Lectio Divina for the Emmaus community. I’ve reflected upon this event many, many times over the past two decades. I had thought everything was squeezed from its words. I was wrong.
This morning while reading and reflecting upon the Gospel event, I saw the two disciples at the table with the Lord. Always previously I had seen this event recognized by these disciples from Thursday when the Lord shared the Eucharist for the first time. Today, I realized these two were not at the ‘Last Supper’ to witness this firsthand. All those 11 remaining disciple were still locked in the upper room (except maybe Thomas).
Why is this realization so impactful this morning for me? The first celebration of Mass and the Eucharist was with the ‘priests’ and leaders of His Church. But, even for those of us who weren’t present in that moment, maybe we’ve only read of it in the Gospels, it is still a pivotal recognizable event.
These two disciples recognized Jesus in this moment, in the Eucharist, firsthand despite not having witnessed the Mass or Eucharist previously. Today, we are those disciples of Jesus. We see the raising of the bread and recognize it is Jesus. In the Eucharist, we know it is Jesus before us. Even if we are feeling lost, troubled hearts or fearful, Jesus comes before us in the Eucharistic celebration of Holy Mass.
Sit and ponder this Gospel today. This event is huge for the disciples of our world today – us. Delve deeply into this event on that first Easter. Understand that just like that day, the biggest of days ever, Jesus sees nothing more important than coming to you in the Eucharist and Mass, Nothing else is more important.
Recognize the burning in your heart, and let it blaze!