Red Admiral 3/27/05

Holy Name Monastery Grounds

The Road

March 30, 2005 Lk 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.
"He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread." What does it mean? They did not see who Jesus was when they heard his teachings of the Scriptures. They walked with him and saw him yet they did not truly see who he was yet. The journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus was seven miles. I imagine that walking that could have been about a two hour walk. It was nearly evening when they asked Jesus to stay and they shared the meal. They did not see Jesus until they gav him the hospitality of sharing table and his blessing of the bread was what opened their eyes. It is an affirmation that since the Last Supper there is a presence of Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist is an opening of our eyes to the presence of Jesus. Jesus in this reading is also again teaching that the Scriptures and the teachings of the prophets are fulfilled in his life and resurrection.

My meditation for the day from this reading is to retain the sense of hospitality of breaking bread and sharing with others on the journey.