We may say, "What a privilege for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to meet Jesus, to listen to him explaining the Scriptures, and to share the Eucharist with Him." Wouldn't our hearts burn within us too? Wouldn't we have to invite this special guest into our homes? The good news is that we share that same experience each time we celebrate the Eucharist.
Although the disciples knew Jesus personally, and although they had the privilege of walking with and listening to him on the way to Emmaus, they did not recognize him until he broke bread with them. The story teaches us that it is in the Eucharist that we truly come to recognize the Lord.
I often wonder why the disciples did not recognize Jesus on the road? Probably because they had preconceived notions about the Messiah that prevented them from understanding that Jesus had to die that we might live. Thus, they were saddened and greatly disappointed.
The disciples had been told about the necessity of these events many times, but they had not believed, they did not understand. Their own ideas blocked their vision.
Jesus' gradual revelation of himself allows them to learn certain lessons about who He is and about trusting God's promises. Remember: Jesus never forces us to believe but rather gently invites us to believe!
While we do not know the specific passages Jesus used, we do know that he opened the Scriptures to the disciples with a view of showing them how the Old Testament pointed to Him as its fullfillment.
We know that Jesus walked with them through the entirety of the revelation that gave witness to who He was and why He had come. He opened the Scriptures to them.
When they first met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they had little faith. They had heard about the Empty Tomb, yet they had not believed. The supernatural working of God to raise Jesus from the dead was outside of their understanding. They had never fully considered who Jesus was.
We need to be careful not to make the same mistake. These two disciples on the road to Emmaus knew something had happened, but it was beyond their level of faith to see things as they truly were.
Knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are two different things. Many people today know who Jesus is, but their eyes have yet been opened.
We have all traveled the road to Emmaus at some time as we had our hopes dashed. But what a difference the presence of Christ makes in our lives. Our eyes are opened to a new way of looking at realty by he Word of God. We recognize the real presence of Christ each time we come to the Eucharist. Christ is not just present, but transforms us, renews us, recreates us just as he restored hope and joy once again to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
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