The Road to Emmaus
Since last October, those who received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil, as part of their formation, have been coming to regular meetings each week. The celebration of the Sacraments was the high point in their life of faith. The weeks between now and Pentecost, which is 24th May this year, are also important for them and for us.
They give us the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful new life that they have received. In these weeks with them we can savour the meaning of the sacramental experiences they have undergone. Now is the time to deepen our Christian experience, to grow spiritually and to enter more fully into the life and unity of our parish community. We can do this by meditating on the gospel, sharing in the Sunday Mass and performing works of charity.
The Emmaus gospel of this Sunday can be a way to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist. The two disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus. They have turned their backs on Jerusalem and the hopes they had for Jesus. They had heard the women’s news of the empty tomb, but they could not accept it. Jesus joins them as they walked along. They do not recognise him, and he asks why they are downcast. They share with him their hopes for Jesus. The risen Lord responds to the foolishness of these two by drawing them back to the wisdom of the scriptures. He unpacks the Hebrew Scriptures so they can see how these point to Christ. Later they admit that their hearts were burning within them as he talked with them on the road.
As one commentator put it:
In the dimness of our faith, our prayer needs the constant enlightenment of the sacred word. Through the intricate paths of daily life, our conscience needs the guiding light of Gods own teaching. In the cold darkness of a secular society, we need to experience hearts burning within us as we hear the good news of God’s self- giving love for us. (Sylvester O’Flynn O.F.M. Cap)
Jesus makes as if to go on beyond Emmaus. The two disciples urge him to stay with them. At table Jesus takes bread, he blesses it, he breaks it and he gives them the bread. This is a Eucharistic action. It is only then that they recognise him. Jesus fed their minds with the living word and, in handing them the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognised him. They are changed. They set out that instant and return to Jerusalem.
Lord, in this Eastertide, walk with me, open the scriptures for me, share yourself in the breaking of bread. By your gift may I recognise you here at Mass. May my heart burn within me so that I may joyfully go back to the world sharing your word of life and radiating your hope.
