And he asked, “What is it?” They replied, “It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people.
But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.
It is now the third day since all this took place. It is also true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn,
they did not find his body; and they came and told us that they had had a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.
Some of our people went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not find a body in the tomb.”
He said to them, “How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand?
Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this, and then enter his glory?” Then starting with Moses, and going through the prophets,
he explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning himself. As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther.
But they prevailed upon him, “Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table,
he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave each a piece. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight.
And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?” They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem.
There, they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: “Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen!
He has appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.
REFLECTION:
Read: The account of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus speaks of their eyes being opened when Jesus broke the bread. Prior to that,
despite the seeming length of their journey together and the fact that this man who had walked by their side knew so much about the prophecies concerning Jesus,
they simply didn’t recognize that it was Jesus talking to them.
But they didn’t only come to a full recognition of Jesus after he had performed an act he had done during the last supper,
it also emboldened them to return to the other disciples and proclaim their faith in the Risen Lord.
Reflect: There was obviously something so profound, so powerful and yet also so tender and familiar in what had happened during the Last Supper that it made such a profound impression on the disciples.
In that breaking of the bread, something bonded them so powerfully to Jesus that despite their sorrow and pain after he had been crucified,
it was the very same act that opened their eyes to recognize him.
Pray: Lord, you have given us your Body and Blood so that every time we receive it, we share in the very experience your disciples had at the Last Supper.
Let me always approach the Eucharist with a heart and soul that is ready and in a state of grace.
Act: Always be prepared in mind and heart to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Seek to always be in a state of grace.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020