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 can make the lame walk, He can restore a blind man’s eyesight, He
can 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 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 smart phones, smart gadgets and internet 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.
Are you going
to Emmaus this Sunday to be with Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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