Our Road to Emmaus

The story of the two disciples walking back to their village Emmaus after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection is one of my favorite stories from the Gospel of Luke.

Here were two disciples who followed Christ and had high hopes for the deliverance of Israel from Roman oppression. However, these hopes were dashed when their chief priests and rulers, put Him to death by crucifixion.

As they walked back to their village, they were full of sadness and disappointment. These emotions later turned into consolation and hope when Jesus, Whom they did not recognize, walked with them and explained to them all the Scriptures had foretold with reference to Christ.

With their hearts burning from what they had heard, they requested Him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."

When they reached the home of the Emmaus disciples, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. It was then that their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus at the Breaking of the Bread! They had just attended a Mass celebrated by Jesus Himself, complete with the Liturgy of the Word on the road. But He vanished from their sight.

They had seen their Savior, Who had risen from the dead! Hastily, they ran back to Jerusalem to announce the good news to the eleven disciples!

What joy must they have felt that they were privileged to have their Beloved Master and Lord appear to them!

During this pandemic when we are bombarded with uneasy feelings of being locked down in our homes and the uncertainty of the future, we have time to be with Jesus and listen to Him when we open Holy Scriptures. This can be our walk with Jesus on our Emmaus road. For those of us who still cannot go to church to receive Him in the Breaking of the Bread (the Holy Eucharist), we can tell Jesus, with hearts burning within us, "Stay with us, Lord, for it is nearly evening. May the day soon come, when nothing can prevent us from receiving You in the Breaking of the Bread!"

May we be at His table at our own Emmaus, hopefully, for many more years to come until we see Him in person . . . face to face! #