The same gospel was proclaimed today in the Maronite Church. It is one of my favorites and brought tears to my eyes. How many of us long to have been on the road with the disciples that day.
Posted on 05/08/2011 3:20:44 PM PDT by NYer
A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for May 8, 2011, the Third Sunday of Easter | Carl E. Olson
Readings:
• Acts 2:14, 22-33
• Psa. 16:1-2,5,7-11
• 1 Pet. 1:17-21
• Lk. 24:13-35
I grew up attending a small Fundamentalist Bible chapel that believed the Lord’s Supper should be commemorated each week. Nearly every Sunday we took time to contemplate the death of Jesus Christ by quietly reflecting on the Cross and partaking of bread and grape juice.
It was not, of course, the Eucharist. But it was, in hindsight, an action that pointed me, however imperfectly, to the Eucharist and the Catholic Church. Today’s Gospel reading, one of my favorite passages from the Gospel of Luke, beautifully shows the relationship between the supernatural gift of faith and Holy Communion.
Luke, a masterful storyteller, incisively describes how the disciples had completely lost their bearings and sense of spiritual direction in the overwhelming aftermath of Jesus’ death: “They stopped, looking downcast” (Lk. 24:17). Approached by Jesus, they failed to recognize their Lord. Responding to His question about their conversation, the men explained their confusion: Jesus was “a prophet mighty in deed and word” and yet he had not fulfilled their hope for redemption (v. 21). In addition to this disappointment there was the added mystery of the empty tomb, although they apparently hadn’t reached a conclusion about what it might actually mean.
Jesus chided them and took them to the Scriptures, “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets”(v. 27), to show them the true nature of “the Christ.” There are several passages that Jesus likely showed them, including Deuteronomy 18:15, which promised “a prophet” like Moses, Psalm 2:7, a Messianic psalm, and Isaiah 53, which describes the Suffering Servant, as well as others. The disciples had to be shown that salvation and glory wouldn’t come through political might or social upheaval, but through humiliation, suffering, and apparent defeat.
Thus, on the road to Emmaus, there was a re-learning on the part of the disciples, who heard a deeper explanation of the Scriptures than they had heard many times before. This was necessary in order for them to really grasp the significance of the Cross and its life-giving, soul-transforming meaning. This education came from the very One who sent the prophets and gave them words; who better than the Word Incarnate to illuminate the meaning of the sacred text? The narrative follows a distinct pattern of questioning, dialogue, and exposition of Scripture, leading to a sacrament, which is a pattern Luke uses again in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8).
Some commentators have suggested that the disciples finally recognized Jesus simply because of a familiar gesture on his part. But this understates how Luke purposefully uses the same description of Jesus’ actions—“he took bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them”—as he does in his account of the Last Supper (Lk 22:19-20). Yes, the disciples certainly recognized that gesture, but the recognition was a gift of grace, and it was intimately linked with the reality of the Eucharist. Which is why they later told the others how Christ “was made known to them in the breaking of bread.”
The story of the encounter on the road to Emmaus includes all of the essential elements of the Liturgy: Scripture, prayer, blessing, and the breaking of bread. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the “Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord's body and blood.” These elements, it emphasizes, “constitute one single act of worship” (CCC 1408).
Every person hungers for this act of worship, for we were made to worship God in that way. God, in his goodness, responds to that hunger. In the midst of the disciples’ confusion and blindness, Jesus sought them out, offered himself to them, and opened their eyes. He did it for me, many years ago. He wishes to meet all of us on our road to Emmaus.
The same gospel was proclaimed today in the Maronite Church. It is one of my favorites and brought tears to my eyes. How many of us long to have been on the road with the disciples that day.
My favorite Gospel. I would have loved to have been a bug in one of those disciples’ pockets listening to the entire conversation as Christ walked with them.
Our priest at the end of his homily today asked the question, “And where did Jesus go when he vanished from their eyes?”
The answer — Into the bread where he remains today.
You might also check the seat next to the Father in Heaven... until He makes his enemies his footstool...
And I have no doubt that where two or more are gathered together, there also, is Christ.
Oten I start a Bible study group with those words and ask Christ to enlighten our minds and hearts.
During my (a priest's) first visit to the French ecumenical community of Taizé many years ago, I heard this meditation offered by the late Brother Roger Schutz and his community. It has remained with me ever since.
"We are once again pilgrims on the road to Emmaus…
Our heads are bowed as we meet the Stranger
who draws near and comes with us.
As evening comes, we strain to make out His face
while he talks to us, to our hearts.
In interpreting the Book of Life,
He takes our broken hopes and kindles them into fire:
the way becomes lighter as,
drawing the embers together, we learn to fan the flame.
If we invite Him this evening, He will sit down
and together we shall share the meal.
And then all those who no longer believed
will see and the hour of Recognition will come.
He will break the bread of tears at the table of the poor
and each will receive manna to their fill.
We shall return to Jerusalem to proclaim aloud
what He has whispered in our ear.
And no doubt we shall find brothers and sisters there
who will greet us with the words:
'We, too have met Him!'
For we know: the mercy of God
has come to visit the land of the living!"
I have found that when it comes to Catholicism, what is taught in the Bible and what is taught in Catholicism are mutually exclusive and should not be confused as being tied to one another in any sense. Catholic doctrine always trumps biblical doctrine regardless. Since biblical scripture is negated, it fails to persuade the catholic believer. Not saying to quit trying, just saying it doesn’t matter what the bible says to a Catholic when it conflicts with what their teachings are. It is simply ignored as irrelevant. Doesn’t matter if Jesus himself said it, your quoting of scripture falls on deaf ears and blind eyes.
According to the Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians or Baptists?
One of my favorites. Their eyes were only opened after they had partaken of the Eucharist!
you are so right texan, there are some out there that don’t believe in the Real Presence even though Jesus Himself said “This is My Body”, so when you say “it doesn’t matter if Jesus Himself said it, your quoting scripture falls on deaf ears and blind eyes”, this is a perfect example!!
The Holy Scripture clearly says, “He took the bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples, saying, “This is my body which was given up for you.”
In like mannner, he took the cup of wine, blessed it and gave it to them saying, “Take and drink, this is my blood shed for the new and everlasting covenant.”
What is not to understand about that......????
It’s in scripture!
Thanks for the post!
I was also particularly struck by this Gospel today,
It’s just a guy....some guy...any guy...walking beside them talking to them then opening up the Scriptures. Laying bare the prophets. This can’t be Christ after all...Christ died. Christ is gone. And certainly even if He weren’t gone, if He were still around, would not his own disciples be the first to recognize Him?
Apparently not. They would not recognize Him *until the breaking of the bread*.
Well doesn’t that describe the priest in persona Christi? It’s just some guy, any guy, whom no one could confuse with Christ, of whom no one could say, yeah, that’s the Jesus we know! We do not see Christ at first, we only see the priest. We only finally recognize Christ *in the breaking of the bread*.
Profound symbolism here...and needless to say I don’t think it’s accidental. :)
Now there you go...Ruining their fantasy with Biblical facts...
Now there you go...Ruining their fantasy with Biblical facts...
i often wish Jesus would have made the doctrine of the Real Presence plainer for the “sola scriptura” crowd, since they reject 2,000 years of consistent Church teaching. it would have been nice if only Jesus had said “this is My Body” or if Paul would have said “isn’t the bread we break a sharing in the Body of Christ?” if these statements were made, surely everyone would believe them and there would be “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”
i must be having another fantasy, i thought Jesus said “and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.
Gods word never comes back void... :-)
Gods word never comes back void... :-)
Of course Jesus said that...But he didn't mean in a piece of bread...Jesus was talking spiritually...
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Jesus will be formed in believers...NOT in a glass of wine...
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