Scripture
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.
Reflection
The two men in this story receive perhaps the greatest blessing that any one could dream of, and they don’t even realize it until the end. The Lord Jesus himself, resurrected from the dead, walks with them, teaches them about the Holy Scriptures, and breaks bread with them. What a blessing—to journey with the Lord himself.
But we also know that he told us before he left: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt. 28:20). So Jesus is still with us: journeying with us, teaching us, and breaking bread with us. We have life because he has life, and it is eternal life; therefore, we never have anything to fear. Our task is simply to listen to him intently and follow him. “If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him,” (Jn. 12:26).
Let us pray: Lord, give us the patience and wisdom to hear your words and to follow them. Give us the strength and resolve to follow you, no matter what happens. Jesus, we ask that you would make our hearts like your sacred heart; so that we can love unconditionally, forgive completely, and offer up our lives for the salvation of the world. And we make this prayer in your most holy and precious name.< /br>Amen
