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:
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 had 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 life 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. Jesus was already their hero,
who would not consider Jesus as hero when He could make the lame walk, He could
restore a blind man’s eyesight, He could bring back to life a dead man and so
forth. 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 now 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 Jesus Christ who was with them, it was Jesus who was conversing with them
while they were walking going to Emmaus.
Where is
Emmaus now in this technology and internet driven times? Emmaus is certainly
not located within your high-tech mobile phone. 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.
Are you
going to Emmaus this Sunday to be with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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