Luke 24:13-35
The Gospel Reading testifies to the Church’s Resurrection-faith growing in wondrous ways. The disciples on the way to Emmaus speak of Jesus merely as a prophet. Jesus takes up the Scriptures which they ought to know. The question at hand involves the Messiah, not a prophet. All the Old Testament writings foretell the Messiah’s death and resurrection. Jesus proves Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
God makes Himself known in the events having taken place in Jerusalem: namely, in the suffering, in the death and in the resurrection of Jesus. Nevertheless, in today’s Gospel two disciples decide they have had enough and they high tail it out of Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-35). Departing from the place of God’s presence among them, they are leaving the very pivot point of God’s salvific action.
Let go your expectations to have a life without problems.
The Risen Lord Jesus sets out to journey alongside the despondent disciples (v. 15). Along the way they speak and act as though they command all the facts about Jesus. Despite their knowledge about and personal experience with Jesus, they (still!) do not see Him. Their own narrow ideas of Him prevent them from recognizing the Risen Lord Jesus. Stated differently, their own expectations get in the way and obscure their perspective and understanding. Previously having made up their minds about who Jesus is and what He should have done for them, they do not care to see reality as it is and stubbornly want to twist it into something that fits their own ideas.
Let go of your desire to understand why this happened.
Astonishingly, Jesus does not abandon the two disciples. He journeys with them and instructs them through the Scriptures, patiently showing them that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die. At the end of their conversation, Jesus feigns as if to continue on alone. Now it is for the disciples to invite Jesus to stay with them. Jesus stays and at table takes the bread, says the blessing, breaks it and hands it to them. Instantly the disciples recognize the Risen Lord Jesus.
How often do we find that the demands of the Lord are too difficult for us? We, too, walk away from our Jerusalem, where the action of God can make us uncomfortable and be experienced as inconvenient, especially when it runs counter to our hopes and dreams.
Let the Risen Lord Jesus strengthen your faith lead you home.
