Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
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.
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Reflection:
A husband was always being urged by his wife to join his family to attend
Sunday Mass. The husband would always say, I don’t want to go because I don’t
understand what’s going on at Mass and I am also busy with other things.
His wife told him, don’t you know that you always have a personal
encounter with Jesus whenever you are at Holy Mass? Don’t you know that
the words of Jesus are always proclaimed to you at Holy Mass? And don’t you
know that you always partake of Jesus Body and Blood during Holy Communion?
In our gospel, while Cleopas and the other disciple were going to Emmaus,
the risen Christ suddenly walked with them and conversed with them. They had no
inkling that it was already the risen Christ who was with them. Why? This is
for the reason that their focus was not on the risen Christ but on the Christ
who died on the cross.
They walked-on until they reached Emmaus it was already night time so
they invited Jesus to stay in their house. And while they were at a table Jesus
took bread broke it said the blessings and shared it with the two of them. They
immediately recognized that it was the risen Jesus who was with them. Because
Jesus did the same sacred gesture before them and the apostles during the last
supper in the upper room (Luke 22:19-20).
Cleopas and the other disciple are not alone in this predicament of not
immediately recognizing the presence of Jesus in their midst. For we too are
often guilty of not recognizing that Jesus is always present at Holy Mass.
And the reason behind not recognizing Jesus at Holy Mass is our lack of
concentration and attention when we are at Mass. Our lack of interest with the
Holy Mass readings and our failure to read Jesus life transforming words in the
bible when we are in our home.
If only we would prioritize our presence at Holy Mass, if only we would
focus our attention to what the priest does at Holy Mass. And if only we would
find time to open and read the life giving words of Jesus in the bible every
day. We would know and feel that Jesus is also walking with us and He is ever
ready to introduce Himself to us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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