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:
How would you feel if somebody close to you dies?
We all feel very sad when somebody very important to us dies. The feeling is as if a big important part of us has been taken off from our lives. Cleopas and his companion had this feeling of sadness as they were walking towards Emmaus. They felt that a big part of their lives had been taken from them with the death of Jesus.
However, as they were journeying going to Emmaus they did not recognize that the Risen Christ was already walking and conversing with them. So, while walking going to Emmaus Jesus asked them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk (Luke 24:17)?" They told Him their story and seemingly false expectations about Himself (Jesus).
Why false expectation? Because Cleopas and company were expecting Jesus to redeem Israel from the Jewish ruling class. Jesus was already their hero, who would not consider Jesus as hero when He can make the lame walk, when He can make the blind see again etc. They thought that it was now all bed of roses for them since they were now following Jesus. Therefore, they were terribly disappointed with the death of Jesus.
What is the lesson for us in this gospel episode? This tells us that we must not expect that everything would be turning out right for us since we are now followers of Jesus. There would still be trials, persecutions and disappointments for these are part of the test of our faith in Jesus.
When they arrived at Emmaus they asked Jesus to stay with them. While there at a table with them He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). After doing it in front of them they recognized that it was the Risen Christ who was with them, that it was Jesus who was conversing with them while they were walking going to Emmaus.
Where is Emmaus now in this smart phones, smart gadgets and social media driven times? Emmaus is certainly not located within your high-tech gadgets. Emmaus is the church specifically located inside your church. When you go to your church to attend Holy Mass you go to Emmaus.
There you have to hold in highest regard the words of God as it is proclaimed to you. There you reverently accept Jesus' Body and Blood as it is given to you by the priest or the Extra-Ordinary Minister of Holy Communion. But the intensifying case of covid-19 prevents us from going to church to attend Holy Mass.
So, where would Emmaus be? Your home becomes Emmaus when you encourage your family to piously watch the celebration of Holy Mass online. Do you always make yourself and your family available for online Holy Mass? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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