This story is the basis for the title
of my blog where I post my homilies: Two Disciples on the Road. This
story, often title “the road to Emmaus” or just “Emmaus,” is
a masterpiece of literary and theological work thanks to Luke's
ability to see the events of history in their wider context. While
we could explore so much about “Emmaus,” I want to focus myself
to three points which could really be three homilies.
The first two points are quick ones.
1- God is there whether we recognize
Him or not. More often than not, we don't realize where God is in
our lives, but we have to remember in faith that He never abandons
us. How many of us remember our guardian angel? He's always with us
to watch over us, this Church is full of them, but we often to fail
to recognize it. Yet, they are still there. Have confidence that
God never abandons you.
2- To have communion in the Church, we
need to be going the right way. The reason the two disciples were
going to Emmaus is not given, and the destination is today a kind of
mystery, so we don't know if the town itself might have implied
something to the Christians. But this is certain, they were heading
away from the Christian community. Their faith was kind of shattered
because Jesus wasn't the Messiah they had hoped for. By the end of
the story, after Jesus sets them straight about the role of the
Messiah, they turn around and head back. They stop, have a change of
heart, and are re-incorporated in the body of the Church. This
required a conversion because they were headed in the wrong
direction, and it might mean the same for us in parts of our lives.
What do we have to change in order to be in full communion with the
Church?
3- Lastly, Emmaus is the Mass. Luke
notices the connection between this story and the life of prayer of
the early church, which we know well thanks to Justin Martyr's
account. The Catechism, paragraph 1345
summarizes his outline of the Mass: On the day we call the day
of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same
place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets
are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he
who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to
imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer
prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be,
so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and
faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. Then someone
brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who
presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and
glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in
Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give
voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has
given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call
deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine
and water and take them to those who are absent.
The same outline that we do today is
alluded in the Emmaus story, where the Christians are met by Christ,
discuss the scriptures, and then gather for a meal where Christ is
revealed to be present among them, and they are sent as witnesses.
Perhaps most improtantly is the final
part about the Eucharist. The “breaking of the bread” is the
Eucharist; and the Eucharist is the meaning of life: Cross, Love.
This is the same 'key' that Jesus shows the disciples on the road to
help them unlock the meaning of the Old Testament. It is the key for
us, too, at every Mass, when Calvary is presented to us, and the
Risen Jesus feeds us.
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